Asperger Syndrome in Adolescence: Living with the Ups, the Downs, and Things in Between

Adolescence presents unique challenges to individuals with Asperger’s syndrome, many of which will have escaped diagnosis in earlier years, or been misdiagnosed because of prominent attention problems, anxiety or other issues. There are excellent resources available to help parents recognize, understand and work with the key features of this disorder, such as Tony Attwood’s Asperger’s Syndrome. Individuals with Asperger’s have also written creative accounts of the internal experience of living and growing with the disorder, such as Pretending to be Normal by Liane Holliday Willey. This volume fills a different niche. First, it focuses on the issues that are paramount and unique to adolescence. Clinicians working with parents who have to deal with diagnosis during this period, and understanding why their child who managed previously, is now having so much trouble will benefit from a practical how-to appropriate to this age group. Second, this book brings together such a diverse authorship that the reader cannot help but come away with a sense of the disorder from within, from loving family and from dedicated professionals working to problem solve side by side. Third, the chapters in the book cover areas that I have not seen spoken to with such thoughtfulness anywhere else, although real life demands their attention. This includes Asperger’s and sexuality, friendship, safety, school options, siblings, disclosure, motor coordination and coping with the bittersweet news of diagnosis. These are questions I have often been asked. Having a book available that addresses each of these issues by experts in the area from occupational therapists, to private inspector and special education teachers provides a framework and structure for more thoughtful therapeutic interventions. Professionals who contributed chapters include Tony Attwood who discussed adapting Cognitive Behavior Therapy to Aspergers, Steven Gutstein who has developed Relationship Development Intervention, Isabelle Henault a sexologist, and Richard Howlin a specialist in adolescent psychology. Autobiographical contributions include the forward by a 14 year old, several adults with Asperger’s who have written and taught about the disorder, and a mother of seven special needs children among whom four have autism spectrum disorders. Three teachers, a private investigator, and an occupational therapist all add perspectives on assisting with learning, safety and leisure activities. The authorship represents the USA, Canada, Australia, and the UK: in itself a testament to the solidarity of the research community around this disorder and the gains we have made. The chapters vary, as is always the case in an edited book. I did not expect to agree with everything in every chapter and I did not. I could recommend this book to patients and therapists alike as a useful tool to find strategies that would help, without necessarily recommending it as something that need be swallowed whole. Overall the reading level of the book is high, but not out of reach of educated consumers. Nor is the information provided so simplistic that any good clinician will not pick up new insights and awareness. This is a difficult balance to strike and I was impressed that the task was possible and accomplished.

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