Rich with clinical insights, this volume reviews the state of the science of identifying and treating autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in very young children. Leading authorities examine critical research issues and present innovative approaches to assessing social, cognitive, adaptive, communication, and sensory-motor impairments in the first two years of life. Providing a comprehensive discussion of developmental, behavioral, and medical intervention models, the book also addresses ways to support families in coping with an early ASD diagnosis and becoming effective advocates for their children. A special chapter discusses popular but controversial treatments, including how to help families make informed decisions about their use. Guilford | 2008 | 348 pages | 33 posttest questions | Course #70-10

1. Identify the components of differential diagnoses for ASD

2. Name diagnostic assessment instruments used in diagnosing ASD

3. Differentiate between normal communication and neurological development and the variance that is autism

4. Identify the various therapeutic approaches to treating autism

5. Name the legal and educational implications of treating a child with ASD    

6. List the best practices suggested by the NRC in treating children suspected of having ASD

Katarzyna Chawarska, PhD, is Assistant Professor at the Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, where she is also Director of the Developmental Disabilities Clinic for Infants and Toddlers. Dr. Chawarska's research focuses on early expression of ASD and on experimental studies of face and gaze processing in infants and toddlers.

Ami Klin, PhD, is the Harris Associate Professor of Child Psychology and Psychiatry at the Yale Child Study Center. He directs the Autism Program at Yale, which is one of the National Institutes of Health's Autism Centers of Excellence. Dr. Klin.s primary research activities focus on the social mind and the social brain, and on various aspects of autism from infancy through adulthood. He is the editor or coeditor of several books and special issues of professional journals.

Fred R. Volkmar, MD, is the Irving B. Harris Professor of Child Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and Psychology and Director of the Yale Child Study Center. He is also the Chief of Child Psychiatry at Yale–New Haven Hospital. Dr. Volkmar was the primary author of the American Psychiatric Association.s DSM-IV autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders section. He is the author, coauthor, or coeditor of several hundred scientific papers and chapters and a number of books, and is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.