Understanding of Autism. Editor: Shabina Ahmed. Genesis Printers and Publishers Pvt. Ltd., Guwahati. First Edition 2008, Pages 118, Price: Rs 250/-.

Autism is one of the five pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), the others being Aspergers syndrome, Retts syndrome, Childhood disintegrative disorder and Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). To confound the issue of terminology further, Autism, Aspergers syndrome and PDD-NOS are together termed the Autism Spectrum Disorders.

This pocket size multi-author book has successfully brought order to this chaos. The authors have made a genuine attempt to guide the reader through the spectrum, revealing the mentally disabled child locked into a world of silence, rocking himself for solace to the socially impaired individual who has narrow interests.

All the chapters are written with a commitment. The historical note in the first chapter is followed by the clinical features and diagnosis in the next three. The chapter on neurobiology gives a panoramic view of the neurobiological theories offered by various workers in the field; and towards the end the author has coined a new name worth mention "Developmental communication dysfunction" to spare the child the stigma associated with the term "Autism".

The discourse in the next chapter on plasticity of the brain is simplification of a complex concept done to near perfection.

The boxed information and tables makes comprehension easy; however the book needs more meticulous editing in the next edition to correct errors in the use of punctuation marks, capital letters and grammar. Easy reading and reasonable price are positive features.

Mary Iype,
Assistant Professor (Pediatric Neurology),
Government Medical College,
Trivandrum, Kerala,
India.
Email: [email protected]