Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Foreword
Preface
CHAPTER 1 - What Is Autism?
Some Terms
What Is an “Official” Diagnosis?
Leo Kanner and the First Description of Autism
Some Early Mistakes About Autism
Services for Children with Autism
Is the Rate of Autism Increasing?
Sex Differences
Rates of Other Disorders
CHAPTER 2 - What Causes Autism?
GENETIC CAUSES OF AUTISM
SEIZURE DISORDERS AND ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHIC ABNORMALITIES
OTHER NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEMS
NEUROANATOMY AND BRAIN IMAGING STUDIES
NEUROCHEMISTRY
RISKS DURING PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH
ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES OF AUTISM
MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND AUTISM
PSYCHOLOGICAL MODELS OF AUTISM
UNDERSTANDING THE CAUSES OF PDDS OTHER THAN AUTISM
SUMMARY
CHAPTER 3 - Getting a Diagnosis
FIRST CONCERNS
SCREENING AND INITIAL ASSESSMENTS
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENTS FOR AUTISM AND RELATED CONDITIONS
AUTISM/ASD-SPECIFIC TESTS AND RATING SCALES
UNDERSTANDING THE RESULTS
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
DIAGNOSTIC CERTAINTY AND UNCERTAINTY
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE ASSESSMENT?
SUMMARY
CHAPTER 4 - Getting Services
THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT (IDEA)
KEY CONCEPTS AND PROVISIONS OF IDEA
YOUNG CHILDREN: SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
DISCIPLINARY ISSUES
THE IEP—PROCESS AND CONTENT
PRIVATE SERVICES
DEALING WITH INSURANCE
SUMMARY
CHAPTER 5 - An Overview of Educational Programs
MODEL PROGRAMS
SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF THE CHILD WITH AN ASD
MAINSTREAMING
STUDENTS WITH ASPERGER’S
TRANSLATING WHAT WE KNOW TO SCHOOL PROGRAMS
SUMMARY
CHAPTER 6 - Educational Interventions
AUTISM-FOCUSED CURRICULA
SOCIAL SKILLS INTERVENTIONS
LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION PROGRAMS
ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUES/SUPPORTIVE TECHNOLOGY
ADAPTIVE SKILLS AND GENERALIZATION
SUMMARY
CHAPTER 7 - Working With Young Children
SIGNS OF AUTISM BEFORE 1 YEAR OF AGE
SIGNS OF AUTISM BETWEEN 12 AND 36 MONTHS
ASPERGER’S AND PDD-NOS
SCREENING FOR AUTISM—FIRST STEPS IN GETTING A DIAGNOSIS AND SERVICE
CASE REPORTS
SUMMARY
CHAPTER 8 - Working with School-Aged Children
DEVELOPMENT AND BEHAVIOR
GENDER DIFFERENCES
SCHOOL-RELATED ISSUES
MAINSTREAMING AND PEER PREPARATION
CASE STUDIES
SUMMARY
CHAPTER 9 - Adolescence, Adulthood, and the Future
ADOLESCENCE: BASIC FACTS
ADOLESCENCE IN CHILDREN WITH ASDS
BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS IN ADOLESCENCE
SEXUALITY
HIGH SCHOOL: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
TRANSITION TO COLLEGE OR VOCATIONAL PROGRAM/SCHOOL
HYGIENE AND SELF-CARE SKILLS
MOVING TO ADULTHOOD
VOCATIONAL ISSUES
LIVING ARRANGEMENTS FOR ADULTS
PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
LEGAL PROBLEMS FOR ADULTS
PSYCHIATRIC COMORBIDITIES IN ADULTS
CASE REPORTS
SUMMARY
CHAPTER 10 - Managing Medical Issues and Problems
CHALLENGES IN PROVIDING HEALTH CARE FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM
HELPING MEDICAL VISITS BE SUCCESSFUL
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE HEALTH CARE TEAM
MEDICAL CONDITIONS MORE COMMON IN AUTISM AND RELATED DISORDERS
COPING WITH COMMON MEDICAL PROBLEMS
EATING PROBLEMS
COPING WITH THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND THE HOSPITAL
DENTAL CARE
IMMUNIZATIONS AND AUTISM
SUMMARY
CHAPTER 11 - Ensuring Safety
GENERAL HOUSEHOLD SAFETY
SAFETY AT SCHOOL
COMMUNITY SAFETY
SUMMARY
CHAPTER 12 - Dealing With Seizures
WHAT IS A SEIZURE?
HOW COMMON ARE SEIZURES?
TYPES OF SEIZURES
EVALUATING A SEIZURE DISORDER
OBSERVING A SEIZURE
TREATMENT OF SEIZURES
CONTINUING CARE AND SAFETY CONCERNS
WHAT CAUSES SEIZURES?
SUMMARY
CHAPTER 13 - Dealing With Regression
REGRESSION IN AUTISM
CHILDHOOD DISINTEGRATIVE DISORDER (CDD)
RETT’S DISORDER
SUMMARY
CHAPTER 14 - Dealing With Behavior Problems
BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS—A BRIEF INTRODUCTION
DRUG INTERVENTIONS—A BRIEF DISCUSSION
TYPES OF BEHAVIORAL AND EMOTIONAL DIFFICULTIES
ATTENTION AND OVERACTIVITY
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
CASE EXAMPLES
SUMMARY
CHAPTER 15 - Considering Medications for Behavior Problems
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN AUTISM
WHEN TO USE A MEDICATION
MEDICATIONS USED IN AUTISM AND RELATED CONDITIONS
SUMMARY
CHAPTER 16 - Managing Sensory Issues
SENSORY DIFFERENCES IN AUTISM
EATING AND FEEDING ISSUES
HEARING PROBLEMS
VISUAL PROBLEMS
OTHER SENSORY PROBLEMS
ASSESSMENT OF SENSORY DIFFICULTIES
SOLUTIONS FOR OTHER SENSORY PROBLEMS
SUMMARY
CHAPTER 17 - Managing Sleep and Sleep Problems
TYPICAL SLEEP PATTERNS
SLEEP IN AUTISM
DEALING WITH SLEEP PROBLEMS—SOME GENERAL ADVICE
DEALING WITH SPECIFIC SLEEP PROBLEMS
MEDICAL ISSUES AND MEDICATIONS
SUMMARY
CHAPTER 18 - Considering Complementary and Alternative Treatments
UNDERSTANDING HOW SCIENCE WORKS
MEDIA AND THE INTERNET AS SOURCES OF INFORMATION
THINKING ABOUT COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS
COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM
DRUG TREATMENTS AND MEDICAL PROCEDURES
COMMUNICATION AND AUDITORY INTERVENTIONS
OTHER COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES
SUMMARY
CHAPTER 19 - Managing Sibling and family Issues
STRESSES AND SUPPORTS
SUPPORT FROM EDUCATORS AND OTHERS
AGE-RELATED STRESSES
MARITAL ISSUES
SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES AND DIVORCE
GRANDPARENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS
TALKING WITH FRIENDS
SIBLINGS
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT, GENERALIZATION, AND LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY
SUMMARY
Resources Lists: Books and Websites
APPENDIX 1
Glossary
Index