Table of Contents
Foreword iv
Preface v
Acknowledgments vii
Section One: Introduction to Autistic Spectrum Disorders
1. History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2. Current Thoughts Regarding the Neurobiology of Autism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3. Changing Demographics of Autism in the United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
4. Incorporating People with Autism within the Primary Care Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Section Two: Symptom-Based Assessment
5. Algorithm for the Evaluation and Management of Individuals with
Autistic Spectrum Disorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
6. Developmental Delays: Speech, Motor, Social, and Global . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
7. Odd Behaviors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
8. Autistic Spectrum Disorders and Regression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
9. Vegetative Disturbances: Sleep, Eating, and Elimination Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
10. Epilepsy and Autistic Spectrum Disorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
11. Psychiatric Problems and Autistic Spectrum Disorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
12. Genetic and Environmental Syndromes
Associated with Autistic Spectrum Disorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
13. Individuals with Exceptional Gifts and Autistic
Spectrum Disorders: Autistic Savants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
14. Adults Living with an Autistic Spectrum Diagnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
15. Ethical Considerations in the Primary Medical Care of
Individuals with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Section Three: Therapeutic Approaches
16. Environmental Approaches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
17. Nonpharmacologic Therapeutic Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
18. Pharmaceutical Approaches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
19. Complementary and Alternative Medicine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Section Four: Autism Spectrum Disorders and the Public School
20. Assessment: Making the Diagnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
21. Medical Statements That May Help Children with
Autistic Spectrum Disorders in the Classroom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
22. Finding Ways to Help Families Navigate the Public School System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Appendices
Appendix A Resources for Clinicians/Resources for Families . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Appendix B Autism Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Appendix C Behavior Based Handouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Appendix D School Interactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Appendix E Medical Statement That May Help Children With ASD in
the Classroom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Appendix F Keywords and Abbreviation Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Bibliography 113
Index 115
