referencebooks (![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} referencebooks) wrote,@ 2006-02-08 09:17:00 |
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| Entry tags: | medicine, psychology |
The Autism Encyclopedia
The Autism Encyclopedia
By John T. Neisworth and Pamela S. Wolfe
Published by Paul S. Brookes Publishing Co., 2005.
This is a nicely-manufactured, hardbound book measuring 6" by 9" and running to 306 pages including a bibliography and appendices, plus notes on the editors and contributors, a preface, acknowledgements, and a "how to use this book" section.
The entries in this book, which are closer to dictionary-length than encyclopedia length, cover over 500 specialized terms relating to the study and treatment of autism and other "pervasive developmental disorders" (PDD's).
For an idea of what's included, here is are the first fifteen terms defined in the "E" sequence, not including "see" references:
- early intervention
- early signs
- echolalia
- ecological approach
- ecological inventory
- ecology of human performance
- Education of the Handicapped Act (EHA) of 1970 (PL 91-230)
- electroencephalogram (EEG)
- eligibility
- embedded skills
- emotional support
- empiricism
- encopresis
- engagement
- entrepreneurial model
The entries are written clearly and informatively. While they don't assume too much background knowledge, they do assume a good level of literacy.
I'm not very knowledgeable about the study and treatment of autism, but my impression of the book is that behaviorist methods are noticeably prominent. Also, it's interesting to note that the editors made the decision not to confine the book to the study of autism but to include other developmental disorders as well, although the focus is on autism and treatment of other disorders is very incomplete. The preface doesn't explain the reason for this decision, but it may have to do with similarity in symptoms, treatment or etiology.
Anyway, this is a useful book on a subject of growing importance.
