Asperger Syndrome and Adolescence: Helping Preteens and Teens Get Ready for the Real World - Paperback

by Teresa Bolick (Author)

Sex. Slang. Slumber parties. The preoccupations of adolescents with Asperger Syndrome are no different than those of other teens, but they can be much more confusing. The lack of social skills and ability to grasp conversational nuances that characterize AS make adolescence the most difficult life stage.

• Why can I swear in front of my friends, but not in front of the teacher?
• Why do I have to pay attention when I'm not interested in what my friend is saying?
• What does it mean to 'go out' with somebody?

Asperger Syndrome is characterized by a reliance on clear guidelines, and in adolescence the social guidelines become murky and confusing. In Asperger Syndrome and Adolescence, child psychologist Teresa Bolick presents strategies for helping the ten to eighteen-year-old achieve happiness and success by maximizing the benefits of AS and minimizing the drawbacks.

You'll Learn:

• How to work with the school to help the AS child learn and succeed.
• Strategies for turning common AS traits like preoccupations and routines into positive strengths.
• How to help the AS teen learn to manage unforeseen glitches with grace.
• The best ways to talk to your teen about friendship, love, romance, and sex.

Along the way, you'll be inspired by success stories of dozens of AS teens. With the help of this book, you'll learn that it is possible for an adolescent with Asperger Syndrome to achieve unimaginable success.

Front Jacket

aIf a child you love has Asperger Syndrome, you need this book.

aTen to eighteen-year-olds face many challenges, and adolescents with AS can have special difficulty navigating through the changes they encounter when they reach middle school. Friends, crushes, schoolworkathe day-to-day lives of teens present complicated issues. Child psychologist and AS specialist Teresa Bolick has solutions for overcoming the obstacles kids with AS face.

aPacked with practical advice and full of inspiring stories, "Asperger Syndrome and Adolescence" will be your guidebook as you help a teen with AS down the path toward happiness and success. Youall learn effective techniques for raising a self-sufficient, self-confident teen, and will find inspiration in the dozens of success stories Dr. Bolick shares.a

Author Biography

Teresa Bolick, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist who specializes in autism spectrum disorders. She received a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Emory University. Dr. Bolick is a consultant to schools and maintains a private practice in Nashua, New Hampshire. She lives in Massachusetts with her family.