Coauthored by the premier expert on autism in the United States and an experienced academic and practicing pediatrician, this volume provides concise and practical information based on the most up-to-date research and clinical experience for primary care givers around the world. Showing clinicians how to most effectively use evidence-based techniques, this invaluable guide offers primary-care providers access to expert, current research and practice guidelines allowing them to confidently support children who present with symptoms of autism.

FRED R. VOLKMAR, M.D., is the Irving B. Harris Professor of Child Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and Psychology at the Yale University School of Medicine and the former Director of the Center. He is the primary author of the American Psychiatric Associations DSM-IV section on Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders. Dr. Volkmar has directed Autism research at Yale and the coauthor of a number of books, including Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders, 4th edition (Wiley, 2013). The mentor of several hundred students, he has a strong interest in bringing research knowledge to primary care providers and to parents and teachers.

LISA A. WIESNER, M.D., is a pediatrician in private practice in Orange, Connecticut. She is a graduate of Harvard College and Case Western Reserve School of Medicine. She completed her pediatric training at Yale New Haven Hospital and a fellowship in Adolescent Medicine at Yale. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor of pediatrics at Yale and the co-author with Dr. Volkmar of A Practical Guide to Autism: What Every Parent, Family Member, and Teacher needs to Know (Wiley, 2009).

PREFACE vii

CHAPTER 1 What Is Autism: Diagnostic Concepts, Causes, and Current Research 1

CHAPTER 2 Screening and Diagnostic Assessment 25

CHAPTER 3 Approaches to Providing Medical Care 49

CHAPTER 4 Frequent Medical Conditions and Problems 67

CHAPTER 5 Overview of Educational Programs and Interventions 93

CHAPTER 6 Securing Services 121

CHAPTER 7 Autism in Infants and Preschool Children 145

CHAPTER 8 School-Age Children 171

CHAPTER 9 Adolescents and Adults 201

CHAPTER 10 Behavioral and Psychiatric Problems: Issues and Interventions 219

CHAPTER 11 Considering Medications for Behavior and Mental Health Problems 245

CHAPTER 12 Considering Complementary and Alternative Treatments 271

CHAPTER 13 Supporting Families 291

APPENDIX 1 Diagnostic Descriptions and Criteria for Autism and Related Pervasive

Developmental Disorders 309

APPENDIX 2 Understanding School and Specialist

Assessment 315

GLOSSARY 331

INDEX 339