Synopses & Reviews
Review
"An exciting frontier in autism spectrum disorders is early diagnosis and intervention. This timely new book provides invaluable illumination of this area by synthesizing research and offering numerous clinical pearls to inform clinicians. Written by a distinguished group of clinical investigators, the book authoritatively reviews and evaluates a large number of topics relevant to assessment and treatment. It is an invaluable aid to those with an interest in infant mental health, developmental disabilities, developmental psychopathology, and prevention science."--Charles H. Zeanah, MD, Sellars Polchow Professor, Vice Chair for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Tulane University "One of the most exciting developments in the autism field in the past decade has been the study of autism as it emerges in infancy and toddlerhood. This exceptional volume captures the crest of this wave by summarizing clinical and experimental studies of autism in early childhood. Its scope encompasses screening, diagnosis, and treatment, as well as cutting-edge theoretical models that may help us to better understand what lies at the core of autistic development. This is a 'must read' for scientists interested in early autism and should be recommended to training and practicing clinicians in a wide variety of fields, including psychology, child psychiatry, pediatrics, speech-language pathology, and early education."--Tony Charman, PhD, Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK
"This exemplary volume brings together truly state-of-the-art discussions of new concepts and methods in the early diagnosis and treatment of children with autism spectrum disorders. Autism has gone from a rare, poorly understood disorder to a well-defined syndrome that is now recognized as more common than Down syndrome, epilepsy, or cancer in children. To no small extent, our improved understanding, identification, and treatment of the youngest children with autism has stemmed from work conducted by the editors and contributors of this integrated, exceedingly well-organized volume."--Peter Mundy, PhD, Lisa Capps Professor of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, School of Education, and Director for Education Research, M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California at Davis
Review
"This excellent book alerts clinicians to the fact that the autism landscape isn't what it used to be. The book's editors...are among the most qualified professionals to assemble a volume on this topic for practitioners. The book's 12 chapters are authored by many notable clinical and educational researchers....This is an outstanding book for practitioners involved in evaluation, treating, or providing other services to young children with autism spectrum disorders who need an up-to-date summary of a rapidly changing scientific landscape."--Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
Review
"This is an excellent title for academic libraries....Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through researchers/faculty."--Choice
Review
"This comprehensive book on autism spectrum disorders is rich in information. It is an important step toward the goal of designing interventions that target the mechanisms that underlie the symptoms."--New England Journal of Medicine
Review
"Exceptionally timely given the recent focus on the importance of early identification of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs)....Provides a comprehensive discussion of what is known about the development of ASDs in early infancy. What may be more striking, however, is the way the book highlights what is not known about this stage in the development of children with ASD....In a clear and concise manner, this book identifies the problem of ASD in infancy and provides measured discussions of key debates before challenging the reader with future research that will allow more about this key developmental stage to be properly understood."--Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Synopsis
This book is out of print. See Autism Spectrum Disorder in the First Years of Life: Research, Assessment, and Treatment, edited by Katarzyna Chawarska and Fred R. Volkmar (ISBN 978-1-4625-4323-6).
Synopsis
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.
About the Author
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.
Table of Contents
Foreword,
Michael D. Powers1. Autism Spectrum Disorders in Infants and Toddlers: An Introduction,
Fred R. Volkmar, Katarzyna Chawarska, and
Ami Klin 2. Diagnostic Assessment,
Somer L. Bishop, Rhiannon Luyster, Jennifer Richler, and
Catherine Lord 3. Assessment of Cognitive and Adaptive Skills,
Katarzyna Chawarska and
Karen Bearss4. Communication Development and Assessment,
Rhea Paul 5. Understanding, Assessing, and Treating Sensory–Motor Issues,
Grace T. Baranek, Linn Wakeford, and
Fabian J. David 6. Case Studies of Infants First Evaluated in the Second Year of Life,
Ami Klin, Celine Saulnier, Katarzyna Chawarska, and
Fred R. Volkmar 7. Developmental Approaches to Treatment,
Amy M. Wetherby and
Juliann Woods8. Naturalistic Behavioral Approaches to Treatment,
Lynn Kern Koegel, Robert L. Koegel, Rosy M. Fredeen, and
Grace W. Gengoux 9. Controversial Treatments,
Tristram Smith and
Jennifer Wick10. Medical Issues,
Fred R. Volkmar, Alexander Westphal, Abha R. Gupta, and
Lisa Wiesner11. Supporting Families,
Karyn Bailey 12. Opportunities for Research: Concepts and Future Directions,
Ami Klin, Katarzyna Chawarska, and Fred R. Volkmar