This book presents proceedings from the joint conference, Evidence and Rationales for Comprehensive Models of Autism Spectrum Disorder Treatment: Divergence and Convergence, sponsored by the Council on Autism Services and the Autism Partnership. It addresses the growing need for, and current lack of, effective services for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and compares several key evidence-based interventions. Chapters examine various approaches to ASD treatment, including key concepts, goal development, procedures, and staffing. This unique volume explores fundamental similarities and differences among leading treatment models; discusses the challenges of implementing programs, educating parents, training staff, and funding issues; and speaks to the need for more meaningful collaboration in this multidisciplinary field. Using an integrative perspective, new tools are presented to help readers make informed choices about how to select and advocate for specific treatments and develop individualized interventions for improved outcomes for children with ASD.Featured topics include: The Lovaas Model. The Early Start Denver Model. The New England Center for Children’s Autism Curriculum Encyclopedia (ACE®). The value of applied behavior analysis (ABA) as a treatment for autism. Implementation parameters for ASD treatments. Comprehensive Models of Autism Spectrum Disorder Treatment is an essential resource for clinicians, practitioners, applied behavior analysts, therapists, educators, and administrators as well as researchers and graduate students in school, clinical child, and developmental psychology, behavior therapy, special education, social work, child and adolescent psychiatry, rehabilitation medicine/therapy, and pediatrics.

Effective Programs for Treating Autism Spectrum Disorder is written for teachers, parents, and the many service providers who work with individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Part one reviews the characteristics of ASD, summarizes major theories and research findings regarding cause(s) of ASD, and discusses the most popular treatment claims, examining each approach's scientific base and value. Part two provides an informative overview of applied behavior analysis, focusing on the principles of learning and basic procedures based upon those principles. These two parts provide a foundation for understanding the strategies implemented by the outstanding treatment programs described in Part three. The eight models described in Part three represent comprehensive, evidence-based programs for the treatment of persons with ASD, from infancy through adulthood. Programs reviewed include the Lovaas Institute, Koegel Center, Strategic Teaching and Reinforcement Systems (STARS), Project DATA, New England Children's Center, May Institute, Princeton Child Development Institute, and Judge Rotenberg Center. Strategies explained include intensive early behavioral intervention, Pivotal Response Training, verbal behavior, script fading, social stories, visual activity schedules, functional analysis, the Picture Exchange Communication System, and the Family-Teaching Model.

Effective Programs for Treating Autism Spectrum Disorder is written for teachers, parents, and the many service providers who work with individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Part one reviews the characteristics of ASD, summarizes major theories and research findings regarding cause(s) of ASD, and discusses the most popular treatment claims, examining each approach's scientific base and value. Part two provides an informative overview of applied behavior analysis, focusing on the principles of learning and basic procedures based upon those principles. These two parts provide a foundation for understanding the strategies implemented by the outstanding treatment programs described in Part three. The eight models described in Part three represent comprehensive, evidence-based programs for the treatment of persons with ASD, from infancy through adulthood. Programs reviewed include the Lovaas Institute, Koegel Center, Strategic Teaching and Reinforcement Systems (STARS), Project DATA, New England Children's Center, May Institute, Princeton Child Development Institute, and Judge Rotenberg Center. Strategies explained include intensive early behavioral intervention, Pivotal Response Training, verbal behavior, script fading, social stories, visual activity schedules, functional analysis, the Picture Exchange Communication System, and the Family-Teaching Model.

This manual is a user-friendly, comprehensive description of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) model of autism treatment—the latest scientific information on what truly works in treating autism in an integrated, organized, consumable format. The book details effective early behavioral intervention, covering topics such as challenging behavior, visual modification, parental involvement, improving language, cognition, and social skills, and ends with a section that explains how all of the treatments can be put together in real-life service provision organizations. The CARD model is highly comprehensive and provides useful clinical information to form cutting-edge treatment programs. Describes in detail the world-renowned, state-of-the-art CARD model of treatment for children with autism spectrum disorders Provides practitioners critical guidance in how to combine the best components into comprehensive treatment programs for individuals with autism that are not only backed by research, but also the most effective, and the least intrusive Includes practical information, presented in a user-friendly, professionally-oriented format, with tables, figures, and flowcharts to help guide real-life clinical decision making

The aim of the book is to serve for clinical, practical, basic and scholarly practices. In twentyfive chapters it covers the most important topics related to Autism Spectrum Disorders in the efficient way and aims to be useful for health professionals in training or clinicians seeking an update. Different people with autism can have very different symptoms. Autism is considered to be a "spectrum" disorder, a group of disorders with similar features. Some people may experience merely mild disturbances, while the others have very serious symptoms. This book is aimed to be used as a textbook for child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship training and will serve as a reference for practicing psychologists, child and adolescent psychiatrists, general psychiatrists, pediatricians, child neurologists, nurses, social workers and family physicians. A free access to the full-text electronic version of the book via Intech reading platform at http://www.intechweb.org is a great bonus.

This handbook provides a comprehensive review of the numerous factors associated with treatments for children, youth, and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It offers in-depth analysis of evidence-based treatments for young children, providing coverage on interventions within social skills training, school curricula, communication and speech training, and augmentative communication. It also covers treatments for adolescents and adults, including vocational programs, social integration programs, and mental health resources. Chapters also review several popular interventions such as functional behavior analysis, sensory integration therapy, early intensive behavioral interventions (EIBI), and floor time. In addition, the Handbook discusses standards of practice, focusing on ethical issues, review boards, training concerns, and informed consent. Topics featured in the Handbook include: Training for parents of individuals diagnosed with ASD. Treatment of socially reinforced problem behavior. Comorbid challenging behaviors. Post-secondary education supports and programs for adults. The TEACCH Program for people with ASD. Treatment of addiction in adults with ASD. Diet and nutrition based treatments targeted at children with ASD. The Handbook of Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorder is a must-have reference for researchers, clinicians/professionals, and graduate students in clinical child, school, and developmental psychology, child and adolescent psychiatry, and social work as well as rehabilitation medicine/therapy, behavioral therapy, pediatrics, and educational psychology.

Autism spectrum disorders are developmental disorders. Individuals with autism spectrum disorders develop differently. These differences are usually present in social interaction, communication, and sensory processing, and become visible through a wide variety of behavioral responses that differ from individuals without autism spectrum disorders. Despite significant research efforts, the exact causes of autism spectrum disorders remain poorly understood; however, researchers have gained extensive insights into possible pathomechanisms, even at the molecular level of cells. Many diagnostic criteria have been developed, adapted, and improved. The eight chapters in this book highlight the current state-of-the-art in many areas of autism spectrum disorders. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the epidemiology of autism spectrum disorders and the current knowledge of the underlying pathogenic mechanisms. Chapter 2 summarizes the diagnostic criteria and procedures and highlights present and upcoming therapeutic strategies. Chapter 3 reviews the adverse events and trauma in people with autism spectrum disorders. Chapters 4 and 5 focus on atypical sensory processing, and Chapter 6 discusses the genetic overlap of autism spectrum disorders with other neuropsychiatric disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, and schizophrenia. Chapter 7 focuses on the contribution of abnormalities in mitochondria, and chapter 8 discusses gut-brain interactions and a potential role for microbiota in autism spectrum disorders. This book is aimed primarily at clinicians and scientists, but many areas will also be of interest to the layperson.