AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS (ASDs)
Autism is family of neurodevelopmental disabilities with different specific causes involving common symptoms to varying degrees: (1) lack of social awareness or social perceptiveness, (2) significant limitations in communication, and (3) non-functional repetitive actions or inflexible non-functional behavioral routines. If these routines are disrupted that frequently leads to emotional and behavioral outbursts. Symptom onset is before three years of age. Research evidence indicates that most cases are caused by some type of genetic error. Possible role of toxins interacting with genetic susceptibility in certain cases, such as prenatal drugs or alcohol or parental occupations involving exposure to neurotoxins (e.g. PCBs) have not been ruled out. Massive early social deprivation is also capable of producing autism symptoms, such as in some isolated nursery-reared children. Autism occurs concurrently with other developmental disorders, such as Fragile X syndrome, Prader Willi syndrome or Smith Lemi Opitz syndrome. Autism occurs three times as frequently among boys as girls.
Great gains have been made since autism was first described clinically in 1943. In 1973 about 1-2% of children with autism who received no specialized treatment developed behavior by adolescence or young adulthood similar to their typical peers or siblings. Recent studies indicate about half of children receiving Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention function similarly to their peers in most domains, though they continue to have some lingering symptoms. The other half improve as well but require continuing special educational support. This site provides up to date, accurate, trustworthy information about social, educational and behavioral issues among children and adults with autism. Each week this site updates the latest research summarized for a broad audience. Parent Perspectives provides commentary by parents of children with autism from around the world. Most of our readers are parents or practitioners.Thank you for taking the time to visit. Your comments are welcomed.
Great gains have been made since autism was first described clinically in 1943. In 1973 about 1-2% of children with autism who received no specialized treatment developed behavior by adolescence or young adulthood similar to their typical peers or siblings. Recent studies indicate about half of children receiving Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention function similarly to their peers in most domains, though they continue to have some lingering symptoms. The other half improve as well but require continuing special educational support. This site provides up to date, accurate, trustworthy information about social, educational and behavioral issues among children and adults with autism. Each week this site updates the latest research summarized for a broad audience. Parent Perspectives provides commentary by parents of children with autism from around the world. Most of our readers are parents or practitioners.Thank you for taking the time to visit. Your comments are welcomed.
- Travis Thompson's ABAI Address:
- "Why Some Parents Say 'No' To Behavior Analytic Interventions"
- Click the Button Below to Open A New Page
Another Autism Miracle: Something Smells Fishy
See discussion of a study purporting to show sensory stimulation reverses autism symptoms (not) by Travis Thompson, PhD
With this week's posting of Autism Treatment Blog, I am including a short article by a professional whose work concerns autism spectrum disorders. Professional Perspective articles will alternate with Parent Perspective essays about every 2-3 weeks. If you have suggestions for people who may be interested in contributing an a short article, I'd be grateful if you would let me know travisthompson2@comcast.net .
African American Families and Autism
Rachel Robertson
Duquenes University*
Pittsburgh, PA
One of the biggest obstacles – it was very difficult finding African American families with children with autism who were willing to participate in my study, which was aimed at helping parents improve their children’s behavior. Usually, families line up to participate since it is helpful to them at home. So why would this be? First, it took a while before I hit upon the best channels for getting the information about the study to potential participants (See Hatchett, Holmes, Duran, & Davis, 2000 for more about research recruitment and African Americans). But second, families that would have been appropriate for the study may have seen the information and not responded. The mothers who did eventually participate described pressures from family and friends NOT to seek treatment and therapy. They said that others in their community thought they were wasting their time with treatments because a) there was nothing really wrong with their child, b) if something was wrong, their child would grow out of it, c) they just needed to be tougher on their child’s behavior, or d) God made their child this way and prayer was the only thing that could help.
Continued, Click Here
Welcome to visitors to the Autism Treament website. This site is updated regularly and provides reliable information regarding Autism in a easily digestible form. From time to time visitors will find surveys of timely issues in this section. This helps provide visitors with dependable, practical information.
June 10, 1975: The Midwest Association for Behavior Analysis was established by Neil Kent, Richard Malott, Jack Michael, Arthur Snapper, and Margaret Peterson.
MABA later became Assn for Behavior Analysis, which in turn became ABA International, which has been a major force promoting research, training and service on autism.
Travis Thompson, PhD, LP is a licensed psychologist in the State of Minnesota in the USA, specializing in autism and related disability issues and services. His services can be accessed through this site.
Contact Dr. Thompson
Dr. Thompson's Upcoming Speaking Engagments. CLICK HERE
Please share your suggestions using the Contact Form
June 10, 1975: The Midwest Association for Behavior Analysis was established by Neil Kent, Richard Malott, Jack Michael, Arthur Snapper, and Margaret Peterson.
MABA later became Assn for Behavior Analysis, which in turn became ABA International, which has been a major force promoting research, training and service on autism.
Travis Thompson, PhD, LP is a licensed psychologist in the State of Minnesota in the USA, specializing in autism and related disability issues and services. His services can be accessed through this site.
Contact Dr. Thompson
Dr. Thompson's Upcoming Speaking Engagments. CLICK HERE
Please share your suggestions using the Contact Form
The following links provide especially useful, trustworthy information….
National Institutes of Health Autism Information Resource
Autism
Speaks
Individual Autism Intervention for Young Children: Blending Discrete Trial & Naturalistic Strategies published by Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company is now available from the publisher. Thanks to the Minnesota Early Autism Project, especially Lisa Barsness, Clover Anderson who took the cover photo, Amy Bohannan, Beth Burggraff and Patti Dropik who contributed to this volume. Thanks to the parents of the children featured in this volume, especially the mother and father of the amazingly cute child on the cover, all of whom granted permission for their families to be discussed in the book
Review in Midwest Book Review, Vol.6, No. 7, July 2011
Individualized Autism Intervention for Young Children is a pick for educator and health collections alike, discussing two different approaches to use with young children with autism and helping professionals consider two competing behavioral models to respond to an autistic child's individual needs. This approach was developed by one of the nation's leading experts on autism and provides a fine set of practical tools and case studies to thoroughly teach and understand the different approaches.
Order now from Paul H. Brookes
Review in Midwest Book Review, Vol.6, No. 7, July 2011
Individualized Autism Intervention for Young Children is a pick for educator and health collections alike, discussing two different approaches to use with young children with autism and helping professionals consider two competing behavioral models to respond to an autistic child's individual needs. This approach was developed by one of the nation's leading experts on autism and provides a fine set of practical tools and case studies to thoroughly teach and understand the different approaches.
Order now from Paul H. Brookes
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