Available:*
Material Type | Library | Call Number | Suggested Age | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book | Searching... Cabell County Public Library | 616.85 S | Adult | Searching... Unknown |
Bound With These Titles
On Order
Summary
Summary
Autism is a complex and incurable constellation of bizarre behaviours, impaired cognition, limited language and most distressingly, a lack of responsiveness to other people, and it has been the centre of impassioned debates for decades. What is it? What causes it? How can it be treated? In The Science and Fiction of Autism, one of the country's leading experts in behavioural treatments approaches autism through the context of its controversies, showing where extraordinary and unfounded claims have falsely raised hopes, stirred fears and ruined lives. Arguing that autism is an entirely biological disorder, however complex its neurological origins, Laura Schreibman lays waste to the beliefs that it is caused by 'refrigerator mothers' or the MMR vaccine, as well as to the simplistic claims that it can be cured by a variety of unsubstantiated treatments.
Reviews (3)
Publisher's Weekly Review
One of the tragedies of autism is that, as Schreibman writes, "[t]he field... is littered with the debris of dead ends, crushed hopes, ineffective treatments, and false starts." Drawing from her own extensive clinical experience, psychologist Schreibman, director of the Autism Research Program at UC-San Diego, provides a comprehensive account of this mysterious disorder within the context of the controversies and contentions of the field. Arguing that autism is entirely biological in origin, Schreibman systematically discounts past and present popular causal theories, such as "refrigerator mothers" and the measles/mumps/rubella vaccine. Although expertly guiding readers through a detailed analysis of characteristics, diagnosis and treatment, Schreibman never forgets to illuminate the human side of autism. The disturbing, and often tragic, impact of simplistic and unsubstantiated treatments, like facilitated communication, secretin and holding therapy, serve as evidence that "bad science can lead to as much mischief as no science." It reminds parents that, despite how far researchers have come, it will take years of research to fully understand the biology of autism. This book is strongly recommended for parents and professionals dealing with this debilitating illness. (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Choice Review
Autism--its etiology and its treatment--has been, and continues to be, a subject of debate in several professions, and here Schreibman (Univ. of California, San Diego) explains the controversies and the science behind them. This book's title is apt: "science" refers to scientific research and what has been proven to be true; "fiction" refers to past beliefs that have since been questioned. The author's presentation is thorough, clear, and well referenced. She covers diagnosis, assessment, etiology, core deficits, and treatment, introducing readers to past and current thinking. The reference list, organized by chapter, will be a valuable resource for those who want to further their knowledge of autism. Schreibman's approach to this controversial disorder is refreshing, and her book will serve an audience ranging from professionals to those just learning about autism. ^BSumming Up: Essential. All readers; all levels. C. M. Thornton Elmira College
Library Journal Review
Schreibman (director, Autism Research Program, Univ. of California, San Diego) has written a solid if conservative book outlining our current understanding of and misperceptions about the causes and treatments of autism. As an expert on behavioral treatments for autism (e.g., Applied Behavioral Analysis, or ABA), she focuses on the ABA approach as the most effective and clinically proven solution for children with autism. Other treatments, ranging from promising new behavioral interventions (e.g., Stanley Greenspan's floor time) to mostly discredited ones (e.g., holding therapy) are generally discounted or outright dismissed owing to a lack of definitive medical and scientific evidence of success. What results is a highly conservative approach to autism that focuses mainly on ABA and related behavioral treatments. A more balanced view can be found in Mitzi Waltz's Autistic Spectrum Disorders: Understanding the Diagnosis and Getting Help. Despite its shortcomings, this book is recommended for all academic and public libraries with autism or education collections.-Corey Seeman, Univ. of Toledo Libs., OH (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Table of Contents
| Introduction | p. 1 |
| 1 Critical Evaluation of Issues in Autism | p. 6 |
| 2 Characteristics of Autism | p. 26 |
| 3 Diagnosis and Assessment | p. 49 |
| 4 What Causes Autism? | p. 75 |
| 5 Are There Core Deficits in Autism? | p. 109 |
| 6 Developing Treatments That Work | p. 132 |
| 7 Are Other Treatments Effective? | p. 169 |
| 8 Miracle Cures or Bogus Treatments? | p. 202 |
| 9 Early Intervention, "Recovery," and "Best" Treatment | p. 228 |
| 10 Educate Autistic Children! | p. 253 |
| Epilogue | p. 267 |
| Notes | p. 269 |
| Index | p. 289 |
