"In this entry of the publisher's excellent Topics in Autism series, Bruey, a Psy.D. who has worked with autistic children and adults for 20-plus years, provides a lay reader's guide to the difficult task of properly diagnosing ASD. She interprets and explains the Diagnostic Statistical Manual IV (DSM-IV), making a case for a more consistent application of ASD terms. Since there is no medical test for ASD, a diagnosis is based on observations, reports from parents and/or teachers, and professional's own interpretation of the DSM-IV; this diagnosis is critical for school and insurance purposes, as well as for implementing early intervention programs. Bruey clarifies the very thin lines distinguishing the various ASD conditions (e.g., Asperger's syndrome, autism, PDD-NOS, and Rett's Disorder), taking DSM-IV descriptions and offering more thorough explanation with examples and comments from parents and professionals. One of the best features identifies common manifestations of ASD--including sleeping and eating irregularities--that not part of the DSM-IV. While many books describe the different ASD diagnoses, this guide is more in-depth. Strongly recommended for all public libraries and for academic libraries with ASD collections."
--Library Journal, starred review, April 15, 2004

"Parents who have children on the autism spectrum usually start out with a 'normal' child. Their shock comes slowly, as their typical-looking child loses skills like talking; shows little interest in people; avoids eye contact; or in some cases, severely regresses.

After months and sometimes years of wondering what is wrong with their child, parents get a diagnosis that their child has an autism spectrum disorder, or ASD. Though they may accept the label, they need a great deal of information to understand the definition, the prognosis, and the treatment. There is still no known cause for ASD and treatment crosses a wide spectrum. This new release from Woodbine, a publisher specializing in books about special needs, offers parents and professionals clear and current information and treatment options for ASD.

As the understanding and definition of ASD is refined and researched, the need for a comprehensive discussion has grown. In many ways, ASD is articulately defined, though it is still a difficult diagnosis to make. The author has worked with autistic people for more than twenty years. She has written chapters for several books, including Children with Autism: A Parent's Guide, and is a managing partner of a disabilities resource center. Here, she speaks with experience and compassion.

Her nine chapters offer a logical discussion nicely exemplified with real-life stories. Writing intelligently without being patronizing or overly academic, Bruey examines ASDs carefully, including the myths, demographics, and theories of cause. Not long ago, doctors blamed parents for their children's condition.

The author also discusses the criteria and features of the five autism spectrum disorders as well as an explanation of the diagnostic process. ASD is determined solely by defining behavioral clusters. The last two chapters explore the current treatment choices, such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), social stories, medication, and alternative treatments. While she briefly presents options such as diet therapy, Bruey states that no independent research studies have proven their benefits. She does admit that there is a growing body of anecdotal evidence and implies a need for further study: 'Knowledge regarding autism spectrum disorders continues to grow such that new theories about cause and treatments are being developed on an ongoing basis.'

The number of children with ASD is rising. Current statistics indicate that as many as '1 in every 500 children fall within the spectrum.' That translates to a high need for educators and the general public as well as professionals and parents, to have a greater understanding of ASD. This definitive manual truly demystifies autism spectrum disorders."
--ForeWord Magazine, August/September 2004

"In the guide, Demystifying Autism Spectrum Disorders: a Guide to Diagnosis for Parents and Professionals, the author achieves her aim 'to help parents and professionals to the field of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) better understand the diagnostic process as well as gain a broader knowledge of ASD in general.' She clearly presents comprehensive, up-to-date information on the diagnostic process, interspersed with case examples and quotes from parents about their positive and negative experiences. There are developmental check-lists and questions that parents can ask themselves, along with good descriptions of the differences in the five autism spectrum disorders and the range of emotions parents may feel while going through the process.

The chapter on treatment includes the following topics: Applied Behavior Analysis (including Discrete Trial Instruction), Visual Cues, Social Stories, TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children), Activity Schedules, Self-Regulations/Self Management Techniques Adjunct Services (SLP, OT, PT) and various medications that may be prescribed. Cautions are presented on being 'objective while wary' and avoiding unproven techniques, such as Facilitated Communication.

A drawback of the book is that it is written for a US audience. The description of insurance companies, HMOs, and the legal approach to service within the US school system may give parents a sense of the variation, but be less helpful than other aspects of the book. Psychiatrists, but not pediatricians, are mentioned as part of the diagnostic team, which is surprising, especially for young children.

The Autism Society Canada is the only Canadian resource listed, but many of the internet links and the recommended readings would connect families to the information they need.

While this book only briefly mentions occupational therapy, the profession is clearly placed as one contributing to both diagnosis and treatment. The book is easy to read, objective, comprehensive and a good choice if parents or professionals were to choose only one book to assist them with understanding autism spectrum disorder."
--Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, June 2005