Research: Autism Spectrum Disorders in Young Children

Authored by de Martinez-Peraza, F. L., and Carter AS in Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, Volume 18, Issue 3, p. 645-663, (2009).

Article summary (posted Feb 12, 2010):

Early diagnosis of autism may lead to effective early intervention.

This review article gives an overview of diagnosis, testing, and therapy options for children with autism. Details focus on children with autism or pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). Autism may be diagnosed based on problems with social interactions and communication. A child with autism also may have repetitive behaviors. The Academy of Pediatrics recommends routine autism screening between 18 to 24 months of age. Early intervention therapy may be designed to offer the best chance for learning at each stage of development. The authors suggest that physicians monitor younger brothers and sisters of children with autism for symptoms of autism. Therapists and physicians may also consider that parents face more stress when faced with an autism diagnosis for their child and suggest family therapy for the parents.

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You can access the original abstract and the complete paper is sometimes available for free via Google Scholar (look for entries that say "PDF" or "HTML" on the right side of the page).
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