Autism is a baffling brain disorder that profoundly affects children's communication and social skills. This work provides a reference guide to this disease. It includes approximately 500 entries that address the different types of autism, causes and treatments, institutions, associations, leading scientists and research, social impact, and more.

45 critical topics every parent and teacher must understand about autism. Serving and advocating for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) requires parents, teachers, and other caretakers to gather and understand a massive amount of information. Autism Encyclopedia: The Complete Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorders offers concise, reader-friendly articles that provide answers to the most pertinent questions related to educating and parenting children with autism. The entries explain and give practical advice on topics including the educational process; programs and therapy; issues in communication, behavior, and social skills; promoting living skills, friendships, and inclusion; and caring for adults with autism. Current research and emerging issues also are discussed. Each entry contains a glossary of key terms and suggested resources for more information. Topics are cross-referenced for easy access to related articles within the book. The book provides parents and teachers with the information they need to help ensure success for children with ASD.

This major reference work breaks new ground as an electronic resource for students, educators, researchers, and professionals. Comprehensive in breath and textbook in depth, the Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders serves as a reference repository of knowledge in the field as well as a regularly updated conduit of new knowledge long before such information trickles down from research to standard textbooks. The Encyclopedia consists of 5 volumes and approximately 1,500 entries divided by the major conceptual areas of ASD and PDDs, including: - Research trends and findings - Behavior/speech - Communication - Treatments - Education Taking advantage of the techniques offered by the electronic medium, the Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders offers an extensive cross-referencing system facilitating search and retrieval of information.

This encyclopedia provides an inter-disciplinary approach, discussing the sociocultural viewpoints, policy implications, educational applications and ethical issues involved in a wide range of disorders and interventions.

This comprehensive collection of over 500 terms related to autism spectrum disorders and pervasive developmental disorders clearly explains classification systems, causes, prevalence, diagnosis, screening and assessment, interventions, medical issues and legislation associated with autism, complemented by synonyms and cross-references. Two appendices provide a list of assessments and instruments used in diagnosis and intervention, and a list of autism-related study centers and organizations, complete with descriptions and contact details. Over 70 experts from disciplines such as pediatrics, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, education, psychology and psychiatry have contributed entries to make this encyclopedia a `must-have' resource for parents and professionals.

In DSM-5, published in 2013, the classification of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was created, subsuming several diagnoses and representing a significant evolution from its first appearance in the DSM-III three decades earlier. Autism Spectrum Disorders reflects this evolution, offering clinicians and families a succinct, definitive, and up-to-date guide to current research in the field and its impact on assessment and treatment. The book begins with the epidemiology of ASDs, which have increased in prevalence, and explores genetic heritability and environmental risk factors. It then explains the roles of the psychiatrist, neurologist and pediatrician in assessing the patient, examines assessment tools and processes, and describes the latest advances in a variety of treatments and interventions. The text's focus is on educating and empowering families and health care providers to determine whether appropriate genetic testing and counseling have been undertaken, whether the individual has had the relevant assessment, and whether skilled behavioral treatment and additional medical assessment or treatment are required. Specifically, the text: Reviews existing prevalence estimates for ASDs since 2000 and discusses methodological factors impacting the estimation of prevalence and the interpretation of changes in prevalence estimates over time. Evaluates genomic and epigenomic research over the last decade in the context of translating findings to practice, in terms of testing (e.g., copy number variants and whole-exome sequencing) and counseling. Examines the role of environmental toxicity in immune dysregulation, which has now been noted among individuals with ASD and their family members by numerous studies. Reviews medical and cognitive assessments that may be needed. Reviews targeted treatments that have the potential to reverse neurobiological abnormalities in ASD Reviews behavioral treatments that are effective in promoting development and improving behavior. Describes the Developmental, Individual Difference, Relationship-based (DIR) model, a comprehensive developmental theory with relevance across the lifespan, which targets the core deficits of ASD identified in DSM-5. Provides an overview of school-based interventions for students with autism, exploring the rationale for conducting school-based research and examining existing teacher-, paraprofessional-, and peer-mediated interventions school-based interventions. Explores other approaches to ASDs, such as complementary and integrative approaches and non-invasive brain stimulation technologies, including transcranial magnetic stimulation. The push for early screening is resulting in earlier diagnosis of ASDs and the provision of evidence-based interventions that have a positive impact on outcomes. Autism Spectrum Disorders provides a bench-to-bedside guide that is essential reading for health care providers and families facing the challenges inherent in these complex disorders.

This book addresses an important and relatively neglected topic in the scientific literature: individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who have dealings with the legal system. It examines issues and implications for autistic people, who have a significant risk for engagement with the legal system in some capacity (e.g., witness/bystander, victim, or perpetrator). Key areas of coverage include: Autistic people as victims and perpetrators of criminal activities, including violence, stalking, sexual exploitation, and cybercrime. Risks for unlawful behavior in individuals with autism and Asperger's. Legal assessment issues, such as witness protection and postconviction diagnoses. Legal outcomes for autistic people, including case law, prevention, service provisions in correctional settings, and rights and support systems. The Handbook of Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Law is an essential, comprehensive resource that explores the risk for unlawful behaviors affecting autistitc people as victims and perpetrators, as well as related issues of assessment and treatment, and outcome. It is a must-have reference for researchers, clinicians/practitioners, and graduate students in psychology, psychiatry, social work, and law, as well as professionals in such related fields, as criminology/criminal justice and the legal system.

Children living in poverty are more likely to have mental health problems, and their conditions are more likely to be severe. Of the approximately 1.3 million children who were recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits in 2013, about 50% were disabled primarily due to a mental disorder. An increase in the number of children who are recipients of SSI benefits due to mental disorders has been observed through several decades of the program beginning in 1985 and continuing through 2010. Nevertheless, less than 1% of children in the United States are recipients of SSI disability benefits for a mental disorder. At the request of the Social Security Administration, Mental Disorders and Disability Among Low-Income Children compares national trends in the number of children with mental disorders with the trends in the number of children receiving benefits from the SSI program, and describes the possible factors that may contribute to any differences between the two groups. This report provides an overview of the current status of the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders, and the levels of impairment in the U.S. population under age 18. The report focuses on 6 mental disorders, chosen due to their prevalence and the severity of disability attributed to those disorders within the SSI disability program: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder/conduct disorder, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, learning disabilities, and mood disorders. While this report is not a comprehensive discussion of these disorders, Mental Disorders and Disability Among Low-Income Children provides the best currently available information regarding demographics, diagnosis, treatment, and expectations for the disorder time course - both the natural course and under treatment.

This is the eBook of the printed book and may not include any media, website access codes, or print supplements that may come packaged with the bound book. Autism Spectrum Disorders 2/e, provides teachers of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or other developmental disabilities with important background information, historical context, etiological underpinnings, and characteristics of ASD that may impact learning. Written in an easy-to-follow format, the book focuses on evidence-based practices and approaches that have empirical bases for use. The book identifies current trends in research and practice and includes special Research, Diversity, and Trends and Issues boxes to clarify the concepts. Each chapter begins with real life scenarios depicting key information and concepts found in that chapter and include key terms, chapter objectives, end-of-chapter questions, and web resources to enhance learning and expand beyond the text. Significant changes to this edition include a chapter focusing on play, a chapter on motor development, and a chapter on sexuality. Updates and changes to the functional academics, functional life skills, environmental supports, and transition chapters add currency and further clarification to those topics. Throughout, the book focuses on real world practice that promotes lifespan success.