Deciphering Autism is an authoritative and exhaustive exploration of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Why was this an important book for you to write?

As a parent of two autistic adults and a clinical practitioner I have been able to view autism from two perspectives for a very long time. At times suppositions and research conclusions on the nature of autism didn’t line up for me – largely because not enough is known about how the normal brain works to describe the nature of autism. My late wife and I home schooled our two autistic children and on her passing she challenged me to write a book combining science and experience in a way that explains the “what” and “why” of this disorder.

What research did you undertake to write this book?

I researched the book from every angle; including neurobiology, psychology, cognition, emotional development and language development to put the pieces of this syndrome together in a meaningful way. The references in the book are numerous and might be a bit tedious for the typical reader but I wanted to leave no stone un-turned.

What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your book?

There are several things I wanted to convey in this book that I consider of paramount importance, One is that the diagnostic picture of autism has become blurred, leaving the more severely afflicted with no voice, Secondly, there is a hidden intelligence within autism that leads to some rather brilliant sensory adaptations – even though they appear odd to others. Third, the mind is regulated by more than neurons and the autistic mind lacks sufficient regulation due to a deficiency in rhythmic, coordinated neural activity in the brain that might one day be remediated through non-invasive technological methods

What is a common misconception you feel people have about Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Finally, a common misperception of autistic people is that they lack a capacity for social interest and bonding. I argue that this is due to non-fluid perceptions rather than detachment and that by employing the right methods bonding, love and attachment become real possibilities for autistic individuals.