Autism: The Facts

by Simon Baron-Cohen, Patrick Bolton

Coping with a diagnosis of autism can be a troubling and confusing experience for parents. Ignorance of this bewildering disorder can provoke difficult decision-making for parents and physicians alike. What causes autism? What happens to children with autism when they grow up? Does autism run in families? What kind of educational setting is best? In this accessible, comprehensive book, the authors have discovered the questions on the minds of parents and professionals, and have attempted to answer them. Autism is a puzzling disorder. It begins in early childhood, and disrupts many aspects of development, leaving the child unable to form social relationships or communicate in the usual way. This fascinating book explains in a clear, straightforward manner what is known about the condition. Helpful appendices identify organizations and resource providers concerned with autism. Written first and foremost as a guide for parents, but required reading for interested professionals, it covers the recognition and diagnosis of autism, its biological and physiological causes, and the various treatments and educational techniques available.

Genres: Autistic Spectrum Disorder

128 pages, Paperback

First published February 25, 1993

About the author

Simon Baron-Cohen FBA is Professor of Developmental psychopathology at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. He is the Director of the University's Autism Research Centre, and a Fellow of Trinity College. He has worked on autism, including the theory that autism involves degrees of mind-blindness (or delays in the development of theory of mind) and his later theory that autism is an extreme form of what he calls the "male brain", which involved a re-conceptualisation of typical psychological sex differences in terms of empathising-systemising theory.

Reviews

[Marc ZEIMET · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book of merely 120 pages, presented by a renowned researcher on the subject, namely Simon Baron-Cohen, active in research on the subject at the University of Cambridge, it is a key resource on Autism, first published in 1992.
It is first of all interesting to see how research, mentalities, and mindsets regarding Autism have evolved in the last 30 years.
The book generally reveals what the perception of Autism back in the 90s of the last century has been.
What were the questions raised and answers given with regard to the syndrome in those days, the perception of autism which is (still) qualified as a disability, in supposedly 'offensive' terminology even though the authors are keen on being aware of the labelling impact on affected people’s life in society in general? Today ASS is rated to be more of a "different" way of thinking, behaving, organising one's life.
The book is about the autism spectrum syndrome (ASS) in general, not Asperger’s in particular, so a fairly general introductory text designed to serve also non-academic readers.
What has changed since the early 90s at the level of Autism research, and sociocultural perceptions? Obviously, this is not part of the book, but it is interesting to take this book by an eminent researcher in the domain to make an enlightened comparison. Is the assessment in research and more widely in society still the same?
The book is essentially about the “facts” known in the early 1990s, evidence-based and scientific symptoms assessment.
What is the value of the publication today? Research has evolved, understandings have been upgraded, certain theories revised, and the views on the ASS revised. A lot remains to be done in the research field on the causes, mechanisms, relationships, and triggering factors for the emergence of ASS in a person's life.
This brief publication definitely remains of interest and value, even though not all the findings described remain “correct”, as research has advanced and produced more resilient elements that better explain certain aspects of Autism. The symptomatology part (Kanner, Asperger et al) forms the more or less established framework, while at the level of neurophysiology, genetics, as well as advanced radiology techniques newer (explanatory) revelations can be expected.
After all a very readable book, condensed in its contents, accessible for both researchers as well as non-academic persons: at the end of the day a “state of the art” report of the condition of Autism by the early 1990s.

[Mette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Det er ren tidsspild at læse denne bog, idet den er håbløs forældet og det vil kun forvirre og gøre skade, at læse den.

[Agatha Runcible · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very outdated

[Burrito von Ska · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hard for me to properly review this book, as I'm far from an expert in the field. Assuming that it is accurate, and current, it was a good primer of basic facts related to autism. There wasn't a lot of "science talk," which was one of the states goals, which I appreciated.
I would recommend it for anybody who wants a quick overview of what autism means in the real world.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview of autism.