Table of Contents -- Preface -- Part One Overview of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) -- Chapter 1 What Are ASD and Autistic Disorder? -- Chapter 2 Asperger Syndrome (High-Functioning Autism) -- Chapter 3 Rett Syndrome -- Chapter 4 Childhood Disintegrative Disorder -- Chapter 5 Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDDNOS) -- Chapter 6 Statistics on ASD in the United States -- Section 6.1 ASD Prevalence Is Increasing -- Section 6.2 Risk Factors and Economic Costs of ASD -- Section 6.3 Diagnoses of ASD Made at Earlier Ages -- Part Two Causes and Risk Factors Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder -- Chapter 7 Brain Dysfunction in ASD -- Section 7.1 Mirror Neuron System and Autism -- Section 7.2 Environment and the Developing Brain -- Section 7.3 People with Autism Have Trouble with the Distinction between Self and Others -- Section 7.4 Autism Is Not a Fundamental Problem of Attention -- Section 7.5 Brain Proteins with Links to Nicotine Addiction and Autism -- Chapter 8 Genetics Impact ASD -- Section 8.1 Genes Involved with Autism -- Section 8.2 Spontaneous Gene Mutations May Boost ASD Risk -- Section 8.3 Risk of Autism Tied to Genes That Influence Brain Cell Connections -- Section 8.4 Silenced Gene for Social Behavior Found in Autism -- Section 8.5 Gene Linked to Autism and Gastrointestinal (GI) Disorders -- Section 8.6 Facial Recognition Is a Distinct Genetic Skill -- Section 8.7 Possible Genetic Overlap between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism -- Chapter 9 Diseases, Vaccines, and ASD -- Section 9.1 Can Diseases and Vaccines Cause ASD -- Section 9.2 Vaccines Are Not Associated with ASD -- Section 9.3 Autism, Asthma, Inflammation, and the Hygiene Hypothesis -- Section 9.4 Autism and Fragile X Syndrome Feature Immune Signatures -- Chapter 10 Premature Birth and Autism.

Chapter 11 Early Development Risk Factors for ASD -- Part Three Identifying and Diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorders -- Chapter 12 Symptoms of ASD -- Section 12.1 Range of Symptoms -- Section 12.2 Autism Symptoms Emerge in Infancy -- Section 12.3 Eye Response to Lighta Possible Autism Biomarker -- Section 12.4 Sensory Sensitivity and ASD -- Section 12.5 Regression in Autism -- Section 12.6 Challenging Behaviors -- Chapter 13 Developmental Screening -- Section 13.1 Developmental Milestones -- Section 13.2 Recommendations for Routine Health Care Developmental Screening -- Section 13.3 Screening Tools for Early Identification of Children with ASD -- Section 13.4 Audiological Screening -- Chapter 14 Getting Help for Developmental Delay -- Section 14.1 If You Are Concerned, Act Early -- Section 14.2 Discussing Concerns Parent to Parent -- Section 14.3 Sharing Concerns with Your Child's Physician -- Chapter 15 Parent's Guide to Assessment of ASD -- Section 15.1 Defining Assessment -- Section 15.2 Types of ASD Assessment -- Section 15.3 Assessment Process -- Chapter 16 Diagnostic Criteria for ASD -- Chapter 17 Medical Tests and Evaluations Used to Diagnose ASD -- Chapter 18 Genetic Test for Autism -- Chapter 19 Language in Children with ASD -- Chapter 20 Measuring Autistic Intelligence -- Chapter 21 Moving Forward after a Child Is Diagnosed with ASD -- Part Four Conditions That May Accompany Autism Spectrum Disorders -- Chapter 22 ASD and Communication Difficulties -- Section 22.1 Communication Problems Associated with Autism -- Section 22.2 Auditory Processing Disorder in Children -- Section 22.3 Autism Spectrum Disorders and Stuttering -- Chapter 23 ASD, Seizures, and Epilepsy -- Chapter 24 Non-Verbal Learning Disability and Asperger Syndrome -- Chapter 25 Co-Occurring Genetic Disorders in People with ASD -- Section 25.1 Angelman Syndrome.

Section 25.2 Fragile X Syndrome -- Section 25.3 Landau-Kleffner Syndrome -- Section 25.4 Mitochondrial Disease -- Section 25.5 Moebius Syndrome -- Section 25.6 Prader-Willi Syndrome -- Section 25.7 Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome -- Section 25.8 Tourette Syndrome -- Section 25.9 Tuberous Sclerosis -- Chapter 26 Other Conditions That May Accompany ASD -- Section 26.1 Thin Bones and ASD -- Section 26.2 High Growth Hormones in Boys with ASD -- Part Five Interventions and Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorder -- Chapter 27 Choosing Professionals and Coordinating Services -- Chapter 28 Evidence for ASD Interventions -- Section 28.1 Treatment Integrity -- Section 28.2 Review of ASD Interventions -- Section 28.3 Recommendations for Treatment Selection -- Section 28.4 Fad Treatments Are Unproven -- Chapter 29 Early Intervention for Children with Developmental Delays -- Section 29.1 Overview of Early Intervention -- Section 29.2 Early Services for ASD -- Section 29.3 Autism Intervention for Toddlers Improves Developmental Outcomes -- Chapter 30 Interventions for Individuals with Asperger Syndrome -- Chapter 31 Behavior Therapies Often Effective for ASD -- Section 31.1 Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy -- Section 31.2 ABA Therapy at a Younger Age Leads to Faster Learning -- Section 31.3 Verbal Behavior Therapy -- Section 31.4 Pivotal Response Treatment -- Section 31.5 Virtual Games Teach Skills to Students with ASD -- Chapter 32 Communication Therapies for ASD -- Section 32.1 What a Speech Pathologist Does -- Section 32.2 Speech and Language Therapy: A Key Intervention for Persons with ASD -- Section 32.3 Language Instruction for Children with Autism: Learning Words -- Section 32.4 Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) -- Chapter 33 ASD Medications.

Section 33.1 Parent Training Complements Medication for Treating Behavioral Problems in Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders -- Section 33.2 Citalopram No Better Than Placebo Treatment for Children with ASD -- Section 33.3 Bonding Hormone Might Help Some with Autism -- Chapter 34 Treatments for Biologicaland Medical Conditions Associated with ASD -- Chapter 35 Research Studies and ASD -- Section 35.1 Participating in ASD Research Studies -- Section 35.2 Why Some Research Studies Are Flawed -- Part Six Education and Autism Spectrum Disorder -- Chapter 36 A Child's Rights to Public Education -- Chapter 37 Understanding the Special Education Process -- Section 37.1 Special Education Overview for Parents -- Section 37.2 Individualized Education Plan (IEP) -- Section 37.3 Including Children with ASD in Regular Classrooms -- Section 37.4 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Summary -- Chapter 38 Tips for Teaching Students with ASD -- Section 38.1 Instructional Approaches to Teaching Students with ASD -- Section 38.2 Teaching High-Functioning Students with ASD -- Chapter 39 Managing Challenging ASD Behavior -- Section 39.1 What to Do when Positive Reinforcement Is Not Working -- Section 39.2 Practical Strategies for Responding to Challenging Behaviors -- Chapter 40 Social Interaction Education for Students with ASD -- Section 40.1 Understanding Special Interests and Social Interactions of Children with ASD -- Section 40.2 Outcomes of School-Based Social Skill Interventions for Childrenon the Autism Spectrum -- Section 40.3 Computer-Based Training May Improve Social Interactions -- Chapter 41 Teaching Lifetime Goals to Children and Adults with ASD -- Chapter 42 Secondary School Experiences of Students with ASD -- Chapter 43 Preparing for Postsecondary Education.

Part Seven Living with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Transitioning to Adulthood -- Chapter 44 Safety in the Home -- Chapter 45 Ensuring Support at Home -- Section 45.1 Family Support Models -- Section 45.2 Grandparents Play Key Role in Lives of Children with ASD -- Chapter 46 Depression, Parenting, and ASD -- Chapter 47 Toilet Training Children with ASD -- Chapter 48 Transition to Adulthood for Individuals with ASD -- Section 48.1 Transition Plan -- Section 48.2 Life Skills -- Section 48.3 Legal and Financial Planning and Assistance -- Section 48.4 Transition Models for Youth with Mental Health Needs -- Chapter 49 Finding Appropriate and Affordable Housing -- Chapter 50 Adult Autism and Employment -- Section 50.1 Choosing Vocation and Employment -- Section 50.2 Career Planning Issues -- Section 50.3 Possible Job Accommodations -- Part Eight Additional Help and Information -- Chapter 51 Glossary of ASD Terms and Acronyms -- Chapter 52 Directory of Additional ASD Resources -- Index.