Book Report - Autism Sourcebook

Ten Years Ago, 1 in 10,000 Children Were Diagnosed with Autism.

Today, 4 in 10,000 Children Are Diagnosed with Autism.

THE AUTISM SOURCEBOOK: Everything You Need to Know About Diagnosis, Treatment, Coping, and Healing --From a Mother Whose Child Recovered!
By Karen Siff Exkorn

"Holding a loved one's life in your hands means that you have to accept a position of power even when you don't want it. You must become an advocate for your child, even if it means standing alone against the world." -- Karen Siff Exkorn

Autism is the fastest growing serious developmental disability in the United States, with an estimated 1.5 million people afflicted. Yet when confronted with the diagnosis, parents are often unaware of one crucial fact: Early diagnosis and informed decision-making are leading factors in improving a prognosis.

Now, with THE AUTISM SOURCEBOOK: Everything You Need to Know About Diagnosis, Treatment, Coping, and Healing - From A Mother Whose Child Recovered (ReganBooks; September 27, 2005; ISBN: 0060799889) parents are empowered with all the information they need to make critical, timely decisions that can change their child's life.

When author Karen Siff Exkorn's son Jake was diagnosed with autism at age two, she found herself wading through hundreds of books and articles just to find the answers to basic questions: What is autism? Why does her son have it? Who are the right people to diagnose the condition? What treatments are available?

Ultimately, her singular devotion to understanding autism helped lead to Jake's full recovery.

With THE AUTISM SOURCEBOOK, Siff Exkorn offers parents all the information she wished she'd had in the beginning -- an unparalleled resource encompassing diagnosis, treatment, coping, and healing.

Autism is also called Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD. It is considered a "spectrum" disorder because the condition ranges from mild to severe. No two children with ASDs are exactly alike, even if they are given the same diagnosis. Because there is no medical test for autism, a child's diagnosis is based on either the absence or presence of certain behaviors and skills.

THE AUTISM SOURCEBOOK includes a checklist of possible early indicators of ASD, and advises parents what to do if they suspect their child shows signs of autism.

For parents, the initial diagnosis is one of the most vulnerable and confusing stages of dealing with ASD. THE AUTISM SOURCEBOOK helps by providing clear definitions of the five diagnostic sub-categories: Autistic Disorder; Asperger's Disorder; Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD); Rhett's Disorder; Pervasive Development Disorder Not-Otherwise-Specified (PDD-NOS).

Each is illustrated with easy-to-understand criteria and case studies, including that of Siff Exkorn's son, who was diagnosed with PDD-NOS. Siff Exkorn also explains how parents can work with family pediatricians, developmental specialists and treatment providers to best help their child.

The big question remains: What causes ASD? THE AUTISM SOURCEBOOK offers a thorough look at the latest research and theories. But since there is still no conclusive evidence that points to a single cause of ASD -- and because early intervention is a crucial factor in effective treatment -- Exkorn urges parents not to get so caught up in trying to figure out what causes ASD that they miss out on getting their child treated as quickly as possible.

THE AUTISM SOURCEBOOK details the more popular treatments, along with basic questions to ask when searching for the best course of action. Exkorn explains how to "work the system" to get free treatment and educational services that parents may not know their children are legally entitled to. She also addresses what is foremost in parents' minds when beginning treatment: how to measure effectiveness, and what they can expect in terms of progress.

In general, parents will see varying degrees of improvement. Just as there is a spectrum of autism disorders, there is a spectrum of success. As for Siff Exkorn's son Jake, he is now nine years old and indistinguishable from his peers.

Finally, Siff Exkorn talks about one major issue that most experts do not: the potentially devastating effect a diagnosis of ASD has on marriage, family, friendships, and work. She admits her feelings of anger and resentment, and explains that healing yourself is equally as important as healing your child. THE AUTISM SOURCEBOOK will help readers manage their emotional struggle, so they can better help their children.