Preface
Part 1: Overview Of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
1: What are ASD and autistic disorder?
2: Asperger syndrome (high-functioning autism)
3: Rett syndrome
4: Childhood disintegrative disorder
5: Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDDNOS)
6: Statistics on ASD in the United States
Section 6-1: ASD prevalence is increasing
Section 6-2: Risk factors and economic costs of ASD
Section 6-3: Diagnoses of ASD made at earlier ages
Part 2: Causes And Risk Factors Associated With Autism Spectrum Disorder
7: Brain dysfunction in ASD
Section 7-1: Mirror neuron system and autism
Section 7-2: Environment and the developing brain
Section 7-3: People with autism have trouble with the distinction between self and others
Section 7-4: Autism is not a fundamental problem of attention
Section 7-5: Brain proteins with links to nicotine addiction and autism
8: Genetics impact ASD
Section 8-1: Genes involved with autism
Section 8-2: Spontaneous gene mutations may boost ASD risk
Section 8-3: Risk of autism tied to genes that influence brain cell connections
Section 8-4: Silenced gene for social behavior found in autism
Section 8-5: Gene linked to autism and gastrointestinal (GI) disorders
Section 8-6: Facial recognition is a distinct genetic skill
Section 8-7: Possible genetic overlap between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and autism
9: Diseases, vaccines, and ASD
Section 9-1: Can diseases and vaccines cause ASD?
Section 9-2: Vaccines are not associated with ASD
Section 9-3: Autism, asthma, inflammation, and the hygiene hypothesis
Section 9-4: Autism and Fragile X syndrome feature immune signatures
10: Premature birth and autism
11: Early development risk factors for ASD
Part 3: Identifying And Diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorders
12: Symptoms of ASD
Section 12-1: Range of symptoms
Section 12-2: Autism symptoms emerge in infancy
Section 12-3: Eye response to light a possible autism biomarker
Section 12-4: Sensory sensitivity and ASD
Section 12-5: Regression in autism
Section 12-6: Challenging behaviors
13: Developmental screening
Section 13-1: Developmental milestones
Section 13-2: Recommendations for routine health care developmental screening
Section 13-3: Screening tools for early identification of children with ASD
Section 13-4: Audiological screening
14: Getting help for developmental delay
Section 14-1: If you are concerned, act early
Section 14-2: Discussing concerns parent to parent
Section 14-3: Sharing concerns with your child's physician
15: Parent's guide to assessment of ASD
Section 15-1: Defining assessment
Section 15-2: Types of ASD assessment
Section 15-3: Assessment process
16: Diagnostic criteria for ASD
17: Medical tests and evaluations used to diagnose ASD
18: Genetic test for autism
19: Language in children with ASD
20: Measuring autistic intelligence
21: Moving forward after a child is diagnosed with ASD
Part 4: Conditions That May Accompany Autism Spectrum Disorders
22: ASD and communication difficulties
Section 22-1: Communication problems associated with autism
Section 22-2: Auditory processing disorder in children
Section 22-3: Autism spectrum disorders and stuttering
23: ASD, seizures, and epilepsy
24: Non-verbal learning disability and asperger syndrome
25: Co-occurring genetic disorders in people with ASD
Section 25-1: Angelman syndrome
Section 25-2: Fragile X syndrome
Section 25-3: Landau-Kleffner syndrome
Section 25-4: Mitochondrial disease
Section 25-5: Moebius syndrome
Section 25-6: Prader-Willi syndrome
Section 25-7: Smith-Lemli-Optiz syndrome
Section 25-8: Tourette syndrome
Section 25-9: Tuberous sclerosis
26: Other conditions that may accompany ASD
Section 26-1: Thin bones and ASD
Section 26-2: High growth hormones in boys with ASD
Part 5: Interventions And Treatments For Autism Spectrum Disorder
27: Choosing professionals and coordinating services
28: Evidence for ASD interventions
Section 28-1: Treatment integrity
Section 28-2: Review of ASD interventions
Section 28-3: Recommendations for treatment selection
Section 28-4: Fad treatments are unproven
29: Early intervention for children with developmental delays
Section 29-1: Overview of early intervention
Section 29-2: Early services for ASD
Section 29-3: Autism intervention for toddlers improves developmental outcomes
30: Interventions for individuals with asperger syndrome
31: Behavior therapies often effective for ASD
Section 31-1: Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy
Section 31-2: ABA therapy at a younger age leads to faster learning
Section 31-3: Verbal behavior therapy
Section 31-4: Pivotal response treatment
Section 31-5: Virtual games teach skills to students with ASD
32: Communication therapies for ASD
Section 32-1: What a speech pathologist does
Section 32-2: Speech and language therapy: a key intervention for persons with ASD
Section 32-3: Language instruction for children with autism: learning words
Section 32-4: Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
33: ASD medications
Section 33-1: Parent training complements medication for treating behavioral problems in children with pervasive developmental disorders
Section 33-2: Citalopram no better than placebo treatment for children with ASD
Section 33-3: Bonding hormone might help some with autism
34: Treatments for biological and medical conditions associated with ASD
35: Research studies and ASD
Section 35-1: Participating in ASD research studies
Section 35-2: Why some research studies are flawed
Part 6: Education And Autism Spectrum Disorder
36: Child's rights to public education
37: Understanding the special education process
Section 37-1: Special education overview for parents
Section 37-2: Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
Section 37-3: Including children with ASD in regular classrooms
Section 37-4: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) summary
38: Tips for teaching students with ASD
Section 38-1: Instructional approaches to teaching students with ASD
Section 38-2: Teaching high-functioning students with ASD
39: Managing challenging ASD behavior
Section 39-1: What to do when positive reinforcement is not working
Section 39-2: Practical strategies for responding to challenging behaviors
40: Social interaction education for students with ASD
Section 40-1: Understanding special interests and social interactions of children with ASD
Section 40-2: Outcomes of school-based social skill interventions for children on the autism spectrum
Section 40-3: Computer-based training may improve social interactions
41: Teaching lifetime goals to children and adults with ASD
42: Secondary school experiences of students with ASD
43: Preparing for postsecondary education
Part 7: Living With Autism Spectrum Disorder And Transitioning To Adulthood
44: Safety in the home
45: Ensuring support at home
Section 45-1: Family support models
Section 45-2: Grandparents play key role in lives of children with ASD
46: Depression, parenting, and ASD
47: Toilet training children with ASD
48: Transition to adulthood for individuals with ASD
Section 48-1: Transition plan
Section 48-2: Life skills
Section 48-3: Legal and financial planning and assistance
Section 48-4: Transition models for youth with mental health needs
49: Finding appropriate and affordable housing
50: Adult autism and employment
Section 50-1: Choosing vocation and employment
Section 50-2: Career planning issues
Section 50-3: Possible job accommodations
Part 8: Additional Help And Information
51: Glossary of ASD terms and acronyms
52: Directory of additional ASD resources
Index.