Communication-Disorders Books

This is a fine book for approaching the field of speech communication. It includes lucid presentations of key concepts such as phoneme, phone, allophone, units, formants and the Bernoulli's effect. Every chapter closes with a summary, a great tool for reinforcing what you have learned through the chapters. Chapters 1-10 are introductory material, and following chapters discuss more advanced topics, such as models of perception. Application developers will also benefit from a summary of potential acoustic cues from articulatory features (p. 152). Finally, the appendices constitute great teaching and researching resources.

If you are completely new to he field, I would suggest to read first "The Speech Chain" by Denes & Pinson, then Chapters 1-10 of this book. Later on, you may follow with "Acoustic Phonetics" by Stevens, "Acoustic Theory of Speech Production" by Fant, "Speech Processing" by Deng and O'Shaugnessy, and "Spoken Language Processing" by Huang et al.

Great textbook. Not the easiest in the world but surely the most comprehensive for a Speech Science course. Thoroughly sound. Don't think there is another like it. Using it in our course with excellent response from students.

A great deal of well-organized, well-presented information regarding the nature of speech, including many spectrograms with formant tracks. The review of speech perception theory is also well done. The technology is treated in only the final chapter, and definitely qualifies as an overview. The only glaring omission is no description whatsoever of the human auditory mechanism. Nevertheless, the book suited my purposes well.

This is an excellent book for parents, educators and other professionals who teach/live/work with people who have autism.

The "jumbled jigsaw" is what is so sadly misunderstood and mislabelled by many; sadly, many such "experts" apply the Procrustean Bed tactics to the autistic population. This helps none and hurts all.

Raun Kaufman, the child for whom "Son-Rise" and "Son-Rise II: The Miracle Continues" was written, said in "Son-Rise II" that "expert" is the biggest misnomer for that very reason above. He was diagnosed with severe autism in infancy and for the first nearly three years of his life displayed behavior suggestive of Kanner's Autism. Early intervention turned the tide for Raun; now an adult, he has no residual behaviors or tendencies of this neurobiological condition. He is also currently the CEO of a company.

Raun rightfully points out that had many people listened to these so called "experts" who recommended institutionalizing people with autism, many rays of light and hope would never shine. Raun Kaufman; Walker Stacey; Gunilla Gerland; Sean Barron; Tony Randazzo; Ben Levinson; Jeremy Kephart; Ryan Hamilton; Georgiana Thomas; Donna Williams and countless others whose stories we don't know have provided the Voice of Hope for many. Each of these above people had or still have autism to varying degrees; each have either written or have been the subject of biographies about living with autism. Each one of these people and countless others have lent their voices; their experiences and their explanations of autism so as to help encourage tolerance. Donna Williams and her scholarly books, this included have certainly helped move that process along. Had the so called experts' advice been followed, think of the loss we would all be suffering today. Just read Annabelle Stehli's books about people who have been successfully treated with Auditory Integration Therapy and who are no longer autistic; Karyn Seroussi's and Lynn Hamilton's sons were successfully treated with a special diet as was Tony Randazzo, who had an allergy to milk. Patricia Stacey's son Walker Stacey and two of Catherine Maurice's children were eased of the autism spectrum with ABA and Floor Time. Jane McDonnell's son Paul ("News From the Border") offers his own insights into living with autism; he was helped by general acceptance from others and his own desire to adapt to the neurotypical world. Paul was informally treated with ABA; he was able to see what constituted acceptable behavior, yet at the same time recognize his autistic tendencies and keep them in check. This is still another valuable book that the world at large needs.

The point is, autism is as varied as there are individuals who have it and so the approaches have to be tailored to meet each individual's needs. Instead of dismissing people with autism as their label, Ms. Williams has once again brilliantly demonstrated how important it is to encourage talents and interests. She is married; an artist and author as well as having a plethora of credentials. Her works are valuable and needed; this book deserves a place of honor.

At present the count is 1 in every 150 births...autism is on the rise. There is a real need for literature like this and the sensible approaches that Ms. Williams has written about here and in her other works. Autism does effect everybody on Planet Earth - whether or not you have autism, there is a 100% chance that you are related to someone who does or work with someone who does or just know somebody on the spectrum. Autism is an in-your-face condition that is all the more prominent due to the increase in statistics.

Institutionalizing people creates a silent underclass. It appears to do no good and is not an effective method in "treating" autism. Autism is not a mental illness; it is a sensory neurobiological condition that affects sensory responses and language. I've beaten on the Different Drum for years to get that message across and Donnna Williams brilliantly accomplishes that in her books.

Be sure to read this and buy some extra copies to give to others. We all need it.

It took me well over a year to read Jumbled Jigsaw, not because there is anything wrong with the book, but because there is so much right with it. Williams is original in her perspective (I've read shelves full of books on autism, none like this) and incredibly insightful. If you have a child on the autism spectrum with one or more co-occurring diagnosis, you are likely to find each page dense with provocative information and ideas. Such a book cannot be breezed through quickly, it takes time to really go through it in bite size, digestable pieces. It also need not be read cover-to-cover but instead by picking and choosing chapters relevant to your situation.

This fascinating and insightful book can only be described as a guide and "wake up call" for everyone.

Despite the "experts" imposing severity labels on Autism that are then used by the education community to direct intervention and expectation as well as outcomes, their lack of understanding of the "jumbled jigsaw" and the personality and individuality of the Autistic person has doomed their system to failure.

For example if one simply provided one of these "experts" the diagnostic presentation of the author, Donna Williams at various points in her life, without them being aware of her "outcome", the current diagnostic criteria who have resulted in low expectations and a life relegated to an "institutionalized" existence.

Instead, Ms Williams is married and is a successful author, sculptor, artist etc. Ms. Williams serves as the symbol of what really is possible and she took the time to write down what worked and what did not so many mistakes can be avoided : With appropriate assistance, the autistic person has the best chance to become all they would have been if the symptoms of what others call the persons "autism" were minimized.

The truth being ,the symptoms have multiple treatable etiologies ,that vary from day to day and an "inside out approach" offers the best chance these individuals have.at leading a "normal" (whatever that is) life..

1 in 166 births.

The failure of the education and support systems/institutions to foster TRUE INDEPENDENCE in this population will result in not just a moral and ethical crisis in the very near future but an economic one as well. If changes in the current thinking about Autism do not occur, more institutions at public expense will have to be created to care for this ever-increasing population.

Autism affects everyone directly or indirectly and the confusion over what part of what society calls "Autism" is the gift and what part of autism is the difference/personality inherent in the individual has resulted in many inappropriate ineffective treatments and wasted opportunity for thousands of individuals.

Read it and learn then pass it on

Monica in California

This is an excellent book for beginning therapists as well as those who have been in the field for several years. I have had the distinct pleasure of working with these authors over the last few months and have found them to be an excellent example of dedicated speech therapists who are willing to go the extra mile for their clients who are higher functioning. The acitivites in this book are functional and easy to adapt to individual clients and their needs. I guarantee that you will find this book useful in planning the most effective and functional therapy for you clients. Enjoy!!

I work at a outpatient head injury rehab facility and deal mainly with higher level cognition such as attention, problem solving, and memory. It is very difficult to find materials and I used to make up my own. This book has allowed me to free up alot of the time I used producing my own materials. It is a terrific book and a great asset. One other therapist in my facility has bought the book and our student affiliate has taken great interest in it. Great job at making such a useful tool!

As a graduate student, I have found this book to be a valuable resource. I have used it in many different practicum settings, and find the activities and exercises easy to use as well as effective. In addition, the appendix on 'therapy documentation, transition, and discharge' has been very helpful as I learn more about the paperwork that accompanies the field of speech-language pathology.

This book focuses on behavioral treatments for children with autism. As the subtitle suggests, it covers the three main areas that are challenging for children affected by autism - communication, social, and academic development. While it is written with autism in mind, the techniques are certainly applicable to the spectrum of Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDDs). The techniques are rooted in Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) and are developmentally sensitive. The authors attempt to make the treatments practical and natural (i.e. reinforcers should be tailored to the child's natural environment). I found the section on academic development to be especially helpful. Several pictorial examples of homework were given, and how a parent might make the homework less intimidating (e.g. organizing information, chunking, giving hints, etc.) This book could be used by parents, professionals, and paraprofessionals. I used it in an educational setting, and have not actually tried any of the techniques. But I can say that the interventions are based on sound research, and I expect that they would be effective when applied properly. PRTs for Autism is a complete and accesible book. However, it is not necessarily a motivational book nor one that you would use for an evening of easy reading. It is basically a book that gives detailed treatment techniques. I think this is its strong suit, as I have seen other treatment books and planners that simply give general ideas on how to approach treatment. For a book that is more motivational while still having practical strategies, I recommend another book by one of the co-authors (Lynn Kern Koegel) called Overcoming Autism -- which is geared more specifically towards parents.

A landmark contribution by two seasoned experts in teaching children with autism--this book guides the reader through an in-depth understanding about the pivotal responses in the child's developmental trajectory in relationships with teachers, therapists and, most importantly the family in everyday life. The application of behavioral principles in natural settings brings the concepts alive and makes them useful to readers.

---Robert A. Naseef, Ph.D., psychologist and co-editor of "Voices from the Spectrum," [...]
Special Children, Challenged Parents: The Struggles and Rewards of Raising a Child With a Disability

Knowledgeably co-authored by Robert L. Koegel (Director of the Koegel Autism Center, University of California, Santa Barbara) and Lynn Kern Koegel (Director of Clinical Services at the Koegel Autism Center) Pivotal Response Treatments For Autism: Communication, Social, And Academic Development is an informed and informative study of the tactics and strategies employed to improve the learning and comprehensive cognitive understanding of autistic children. Exploring ways to improve children's academic performance, advance children's communication and language skills, foster social interactions and friendships with typically developing peers, reduce disruptive behaviors, aid early identification and intervention, and reduce ritualistic behaviors and broaden children's interests, Pivotal Response Treatments For Autism is highly informative and very strongly recommended to all parents, teachers, and counselors of autistic children.

This book is major step beyond the clinical assessment of panic and anxiety. The author has taken great care to write in plain english, carefully identifying each disorder, concluding each chapter with practical steps you can take to overcome panic and anxiety in all their forms.

You'll understand the variety of anxiety disorders as fictional characters with "real life" symptoms give gripping detail to the nature of each disorder. All this done in situations with which anyone who's ever had a panic attack, depression, flashbacks associated with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or moments of heightened anxiety will easily identify. Each chapter also includes practical steps which you and I can take to wrest control of our lives, defeating the crippling effects of panic.

Are you an addict? The principles in this book will give you greater insight into the psychological and emotional elements behind your disease and the steps will enhance your recovery.

If you have ever suffered from panic,anxiety or addiction, this is a book that can indeed change your life!

This book is major step beyond the clinical assessment of, and insight into panic. Written in plain english, it defines a road to victory and gives you practical steps you can take to overcome panic and anxiety in all their forms.

You'll understand the variety of anxiety disorders as fictional characters with "real life" symptoms give gripping detail to the nature of each disorder. All this done in situations which which anyone who's ever had a panic attack, depression, flashbacks associated with Post Traumatic Stress or moments of heightened anxiety will easily identify. Each chapter also includes practical steps which you and I can take to wrest control of our lives, defeating the crippling effects of panic.

If you have ever suffered from panic or anxiety, this is a book that can indeed change your life!

This book is major step beyond the clinical assessment of, and insight into anxiety. Written in plain english, it defines a road to victory and gives you practical steps you can take to overcome anxiety in all its forms.

You'll understand the variety of anxiety disorders as fictional characters with "real life" symptoms give gripping detail to the nature of each disorder. All this done in situations which which anyone who's ever had a panic attack, depression, flashbacks associated with Post Traumatic Stress or moments of heightened anxiety will easily identify. Each chapter also includes practical steps which you and I can take to wrest control of our lives, defeating the crippling effects of anxiety.

If you have ever suffered from anxiety, this is a book that can indeed change your life!

Speaking Up and Spelling It Out used an open format consisting of essays, poems and interview. Each passage starts with information about the author and most have a picture. The editors clearly state that this is not the typical book revolving around AAC use. Truly, I found the topic of AAC use to be secondary to the authors experience with the device. Every author speaks to having to create his or her own lives, virtually creating a new culture with the use of AAC's. I enjoyed the glimpse into the histories of these augmented speakers (editors terminology for people who use AAC's to communicate) who have blossomed through the development of communication. Each story is full of hope, humor, and heart.

Topics covered include the history of AAC's (from personal and development prospective), education, employment, public policy, multicultural issues, and my favorite, literacy. Several of the stories included bi-lingual strategies to championing their environment. Many of the authors felt that the struggle to be heard was what made them the fighters they are today. The augmented speakers talk about the most important issue is getting an AAC that suits the users need. The consensus is to use whatever is the quickest. Non-augmented speakers don't spend much time trying to figure out what an augmented speaker has to say. However, maneuvering around the professionals can be challenging as well.

This book is an excellent source for anyone wanting to know more about the AAC users experience. Therefore, I not only recommend this for family, friends, and other augmented speakers; but, professionals as well. Nothing makes a better trainer than to understand your population. I am using it as a tool for an augmented speaker that is strengthening his literacy skills.

I am working with AAC users and experts on a "pioneer" project in Italy (...). I'm not a subject matter expert (I have an engineering background). Through this book I got an idea of what does it mean AAC for the people who are using it.
The exposure is "easy-to-read" and pleasant even for "non experts" as I am and it opens your mind on a rich and interesting world...

This is an outstanding collection of first-person narratives on what it is like to use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Individuals who use AAC share their life experiences, describing both the "early years" as well as the life they enjoy today. They include both their successes and their frustrations, this book provides valuable insights on AAC from the people who know it best.

Excellent book on a subject. If you are interested how trauma influence health, this is a must read.
You will find a trauma pyramide, explanations that trauma is, description of most common traumas, including perfectinostic parents, setting unrealistic expectations, physical, sexual abuse. This is a good read for someone who is interested in Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
Trauma and abuse history is thoroughly explained and supported by research. Colin Ross describe his theory why SSRI are effective in treating various disorder and how trauma gradually develops in a human being by age 10, if this person grow up in abusive environment. He give some ideas about the way cognitive therapy is done to his patients and the way patients respond to it.
The book is full of memories how his psychiatry training was done, which is a fun read. I've found Dr. Ross remind me Eric Bern the way he describe things and his sense of humour is fascinating. It is very compassionate book.

Although it is obvious that this book was written more for other physicians and workers in the mental health profession (the vocabulary is quite advanced to say the least), I found each new chapter held something in it to help me learn more about the effects of trauma and the different outcomes of a traumatic childhood. I, having Dissociative Identity Disorder (formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder) was relieved to read that I was not different in the fact that I had been diagnosed with almost everything and have been in and out of hospitals. I've also worked with the author's staff as well as his assistant and, although I'm not quite sure of my thoughts on his view of memories, I totally agree that memories are not the point. The point is that we wouldn't have problems if life had been bliss. I highly recommend this THICK book to anyone who, if they don't have a complex vocabulary, is willing to look up words as they go. (smile)

In this landmark work, Dr. Ross challenges the field of psychiatry to make a giant leap forward in the treatment of mental illness. After 21 years of carefully listening to patients and weighing scientific evidence, he has hit on what should now be obvious: trauma causes and/or contributes to most psychiatric disorders. This is especially true for comorbid (many diagnosies) patients. Just as a single disease can produce multiple physical symptoms, unresolved trauma can generate multiple diagnosies. He describes why the single gene-single disease and biomedical reductionist models don't work for psychiatry. He also points out many flaws in logic in the DSM IV diagnosies, making specific revision suggestions. His hypothesies will pique the curiosity of many reseachers and lead to many dissertations. He concludes if trauma therapy is added to medication for many patients, outcomes will be much improved. This is a must read for the serious mental health professional.

Goldberg has a brilliant approach to speech-language pathology: since there is so little (and I mean very little) clinical research to support what we speech therapists do, why not utilize research from other fields that is very closely related to the clinical skills performed in speech therapy? This will reveal to us what works and what does not. This book is one of the most important which I have purchased. Goldberg's approach is so obvious once you read it-so why hasn't anyone else thought of this before? It helps if you also have degrees in other fields as Goldberg has (philosophy, political theory)-you are more likely to be able to think in novel ways than if you have confined yourself to the literature of only one field. Bravo to the author! If you want to improve your clinical skills, learn new ones, etc., get this book. It is well worth the purchase price. This is a book not just to read but to study in depth. One of the ten most important books on speech therapy which I have bought-and I have bought hundreds!

Clinical methods has been a "gray" area for most graduating master's students in speech-language pathology. It is often taught via the "memorize and regurgitate" method. Dr. Goldberg, however, gives a readable, practical guideline that is useful for training new clinicians, as well as for helping practicing clinician's answer the "why's" of what they are doing, an area that has desperately needed to be addressed in our profession. The content is applicable to all clinical settings, and draws heavily on related discipline's research to augment our practice patterns. Also helpful is a bibliography to guide those wishing to pursue research in the area of clinical methods. This book is truly a godsend to speech pathology!!

Excellent book on the subject I highly recommend it either for lay or professionals and necessary reading.

Another great book by Olga Bogdashina. My only warning is that you could find it a bit heavy going, but only because it is fantastically comprehensive. This is not just a book about communication issues in Autism... it is a book about language, learning, intelligence, and culture. It is open minded and thoughtful throughout, repeatedly emphasising the two way nature of communication and not just focusing on how to make autistic people do all the work like so many books do. The book is in three parts, the first looking mainly at theories of language and intelligence, the second at language characteristics, learning styles and development in autism, and the third and final part examines strategies to enhance communication. This is not a handbook that can teach someone how to communicate better, but what it is is a thorough guide to understanding what the communication issues of autistic people are.

I bought this book for my daughter, who just changed majors as a junior from English to Speech Pathology/Audiology. I was very impressed when I got the book. It describes what you should be doing and organizations you should be joining for ever year along the way: freshman through grad school. It even presents charts about median salary you can expect. It gives extensive charts as aids for the reports and other projects you have to do as a student of this science. It also gives many resources in the back of the book about schools that offer this curricula. This book is a must-have for a speech path major or guidance counselor.

This guide is incredibly helpful if you are (or considering becoming) a student in communication disorders and sciences. It tells you step by step what you need to accomplish in each year of college, and how to do it, in an easy-to-understand format. A must have for a CDS major!