Book Review and Give-Away: Asperger Syndrome in Adulthood

May 2013 saw the DSM removal of Asperger Syndrome as a diagnosis, although it remains in the ICD-9 and 2013 ICD-10 codes. Still, given the DSM removal of it as a distinct category, publishing a book on Asperger Syndrome in Adulthood in 2012 seems a bit odd, as if it were rendering itself almost instantly obsolete.

Nothing could be further from the truth, though, as it is unlikely that the construct of Asperger Syndrome is going to disappear from the autism community, from those who identify as Asperger, and consequently, from the clinicians who have been working with that population. Even if the name gradually fades from use, this text, filling an important gap in the literature, of how to identify mild autism/Asperger Syndrome in the adult population, is an important read not just for clinicians but for adults who are seeking diagnosis or who have attained diagnosis in adulthood.

Stoddart, Burke and King have delved into the existing literature and have created a thoroughly documented text that will be valuable to clinicians seeking to provide support and interventions for adults on the mild end of the spectrum. The text looks at comorbid conditions as well as the issues individuals might be struggling with because of Asperger Syndrome. The authors note the lack of evidence based practices in treatments and provide information on complementary interventions.

Research in how autism presents across the lifespan is lacking and many clinicians lack the expertise in recognizing how undiagnosed mild autism presents in adults. This book is a good solution, regardless of what we call the condition.

If you would like to win a copy, please leave a comment below. I will select a winner from a hat draw on July 5.

--Kim Wombles