UNDERSTANDING AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER: CURRENT RESEARCH ASPECTS -- UNDERSTANDING AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER: CURRENT RESEARCH ASPECTS -- Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data -- Contents -- Autism spectrum disorders -- Section one: Autism spectrum disorders -- Chapter 1: Using an ecological approach to understand perception, cognition and action coupling in individuals with autism spectrum disorder -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Understanding the ecological perspective -- Important features of an ecological perspective as applied to ASD -- Emergent behavior -- Stability, variability and change -- Previous research on motor deficits in individuals with ASD -- Motor imitiation abilities -- Perception-action and anticipation: Influences on motor abilities -- Discussion -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 2: It takes a village: Redefining kin, extended family, and other social networks in the treatment of childhood autism -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Standard approaches to treatment -- Role of child's condition on the family -- The relationship among employment, finances and cost of care -- Impact upon siblings -- Unique marital stressors -- The impact upon grandparents -- The impact of grandparents upon the family -- Cultural and individual differences in grandparenting -- Recommendations for expansion of the kin network -- Case examples -- Conclusion -- Acknowledgment -- References -- Chapter 3: Best practices in the assessment and treatment of stereotypical behavior in individuals with autism -- Abstract -- Introduction -- What is stereotypical behavior? -- Why important to intervene? -- Factors affecting the occurrence of stereotypy -- Functional assessment of sterotypical behavior -- Patterns of automatically behavior -- Extended alone manipulations -- Analysis of within session responding.

Behavioral treatment of stereotypic behavior -- Antecedent-based interventions -- Consequence-based interventions -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 4: Attachment among individuals with autism spectrum disorders -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Attachment in typical development -- Assessment of attachment patterns -- Mother as secure base -- Attachment and autism -- Correlates of attachment security and insecurity -- Play behavior -- Mental age -- Chronological age -- Language -- Nonverbal communication -- Autism symptom onset and severity -- Maternal representations and sensitivity -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 5: Compass: Finding direction for individuals with autism spectrum disorders -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Personal challenges -- Empirically supported interventions -- Compass model -- Case story one (Karl) -- Background information -- Child assessment -- Treatment plan -- Six month follow up -- Case story two (Brad) -- Assessment -- Presenting concerns -- Child assessment -- Intervention plan -- Six month follow up -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 6: Psychopharmacological treatment of ADHD symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder -- Abstract -- Introduction -- First line treatment options -- Stimulants -- Atomoxetine -- Alpha-2-adrenergic receptor agonists -- Other medications options -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 7: Enhancing multidisciplinary community supports for minority preschool children with autistic spectrum disorders: Promoting family centered and evidence based practices -- Abstract -- Introduction -- First study -- Parental stress, priorities and adaptive skills in young children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) -- Measures -- Data analysis: Phase 1 -- Findings -- Patient characteristics -- Developmental status, parental stress and parental priorities -- Study 2.

Parent-therapist-preschool collaborative treatment model for young children with autism -- Individualized programming -- Parent training -- Participants: Phase 2 -- Treatment protocol -- Parent training -- Treatment program -- Measures outcomes phase 2 -- Data analysis: Phase 2 -- Our findings -- Discussion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 8: Parent-professional reporting of symptomatology and level of functioning in autism: Complementary perspectives -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Parent-professional relationship -- Parental reporting -- Parental versus professional reporting -- Cross informant inconsistency -- Purpose -- Our study -- Instruments -- Instruments of direct clinical assessment of child (professional measures) -- Instruments of informant information (parental measures) -- Procedure -- Findings -- Discussion -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 9: Joint construction of stories by high functioning children with autism: Using a technological setting -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Our study -- Materials -- Procedure -- Coding categories -- Our findings -- Evaluation of stories -- Story planning and adult's involvement with the task -- Discussion -- References -- Chapter 10: Diagnostic outcomes in school age siblings of children with autism -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Our study -- Measures -- Procedure -- Our findings -- Intergroup analyses: Cognitive and language scores -- Discussion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 11: Safety and efficacy of donepezil in children and adolescents with autism: Behavioral measures -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Our study -- Statistical analysis -- Our findings -- Discussion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 12: Abnormal white matter in language-related brain tracts in non-verbal children with autism -- Abstract -- Introduction -- The study -- Diagnostic tools.

Image acquisition -- Data analysis -- Findings -- Discussion -- Acknowledgments -- Appendix -- Case descriptions -- Patient A -- Patient B -- Patient C -- Patient D -- References -- Chapter 13: Intact cognitive flexibility in parents of autistic children -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Our study -- Study population -- Neuropsychological assessments -- TMT -- TMT process components -- Verbal fluency test -- Tower test -- Data analysis -- Pattern of missing data -- Our findings -- TMT process components -- Verbal fluency -- Planning -- Discussion -- Conclusion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Section two: Acknowledgments -- Chapter 14: About the editors -- Chapter 15: About the Center for Autism, Assaf HaRofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel -- Early intervention -- Research -- Chapter 16: About the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in Israel -- Mission -- Service and academic activities -- Research activities -- National collaborations -- International collaborations -- Targets -- Chapter 17: About the book series "Pediatrics, child and adolescent health" -- Index.