Could It Be Autism?: A Parent's Guide to the First Signs and Next Steps Book

If you have questions or concerns about your child’s social, emotional, or behavioral development, you’re not alone. The number of children affected by autism—an umbrella term for a wide spectrum of disorders that includes “classic” autism, Asperger's syndrome, and Rett syndrome—is growing every year. Most children are not diagnosed until they start school. But developmental problems can be recognized in infants as young as four months old. Early intervention can vastly improve a child’s chances for a successful outcome and recovery. Could It Be Autism? provides vital information so you can recognize the red flags of developmental delays and begin treatment based on those first signs.

Nancy Wiseman is the founder and president of First Signs, the organization dedicated to educating parents, clinicians, and physicians on the early identification of and intervention for developmental delays. She is also the mother of a child who was diagnosed with autism at the age of two, and she draws on her own experiences as well as the latest research to present real strategies. Emphasizing warning signs, she describes the most important milestones at each stage of a child’s growth, including things parents and pediatricians often overlook. She also empowers parents to act on their instincts and initial concern, rather than to “wait and see,” which is often encouraged.

The book explains the steps parents can take to confirm or rule out a developmental delay or disorder. It details various diagnoses and show how sometimes multiple diagnoses may apply. But even more valuable is the information on how to design and implement the best intervention plan based on a child’s unique developmental profile. Different treatments and therapies are outlined so parents can explore and understand what may work best for their child, based on his or her particular strengths and weaknesses.

Ultimately, Could It Be Autism? is about giving parents hope—hope that they can know one way or the other where their child is developmentally and hope that they can give their child what he or she needs to have the best life possible.

Library Journal

For children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), early intervention programs are critical in lessening the impact of autism. Wiseman, the mother of an autistic child and founder of First Signs (www.firstsigns.org), a group working to identify early signs of ASD, here provides effective and balanced ways for parents to interpret these signs in their own children. Well written and with quotes from parents, her book includes sections on spotting the early signs of ASD, getting the diagnosis, and finding help for both the child and the adult. The section on the diagnostic process is excellent in addressing this difficult time for parents by providing ways for them to help professionals with the assessment. Also useful is the description of other tests that should be sought out, such as a hearing test, to rule out health issues that can have an impact on the child's development. Because it serves as a tremendous resource for parents confronting the possibility of ASD with their child, this book, complete with examples of children who have benefited from early intervention, is strongly recommended for all public and academic libraries with autism or education collections.-Corey Seeman, Univ. of Michigan Lib., Ann Arbor Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.