Autism spectrum disorder : characteristics, causes, and practical issues / Jill Boucher.

Preceded by Autistic spectrum / Jill Boucher. 1st ed. 2009.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Part I. What is autism? : 1. Historical background : Early case reports -- The first attempts to identify autism as a distinct condition : Kanner's and Asperger's seminal accounts; Two blind alleys; Back to Kanner -- The first official definitions : Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) definitions; International Classification of Diseases (ICD) definitions -- 2. Current concept and definition : DSM-5 concept and definition : Diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder ; Changes from DSM-IV to DSM-5 -- Why the changes? : Why abandon subtypes in favour of a 'spectrum'? ; Why only two core impairments? ; Why are sensory anomalies included? ; Why add 'descriptors'? ; Why the changed status of impaired language? ; Why allow for late diagnosis? ; 'Social communication disorder': what is it, and why is it mentioned? -- Objections to the changes : People with an existing subtypes diagnosis, and their families ; Professionals, especially clinicians and researchers -- Applying the criteria in practice : Generalised versus manifest behaviour -- 3. The fuller picture: shared characteristics : Expanding the diagnostic descriptions : Social, emotional and communicative impairments ; Restricted, repetitive behaviours and sensory-perceptual anomalies -- Some additional shared characteristics : Imagination and creativity: strengths and weaknesses ; Islets of ability ; Motor skills: strengths and weaknesses ; Impaired sense of self -- 4. The fuller picture: sources of diversity : Major specifiers : Learning disability ; Language impairment -- Minor specifiers : Comorbid physical and medical conditions ; Mental health problems ; Neurodevelopmental problems ; Behavioural problems -- Individual differences -- 5. Facts and figures: epidemiology and lifespan development : Epidemiology : Frequency of occurrence of ASD ; Distribution of cases of ASD : Age of onset ; The developmental trajectory: continuities and change ; Adult outcomes ; Judging long-term outcomes -- Part II. What causes autism? : 6. A framework for explaining autism : Why explaining autism is important -- Complications and simplifications : Identifying a realistic agenda ; Keeping the explanatory levels apart and putting them together ; Simplifying the search for causes -- Assessing the merits of causal theories : Some points to bear in mind ; Criteria for judging the strength of theories -- 7. Root causes : Introduction : Idiopathic and syndromic forms of ASD ; The concept of risk factors -- Genetic risk factors : What are 'genetic risk factors'? ; Evidence for the involvement of genetic factors ; Current knowledge of genetic risk factors for ASD ; Genetic risk factors and abnormal brain development -- Environmental risk factors : What are 'Environmental risk factors'? ; Evidence for the involvement of environmental risk factors in ASD ; Current knowledge of environmental risk factors in ASD ; Environmental risk factors and abnormal brain development -- Brain bases : The neurotypical brain : Neurotypical brain structure ; Neurotypical brain chemistry ; Neurotypical brain function ; Neurotypical brain development -- 8. The autistic brain : Brain structure in ASD ; Brain chemistry in ASD ; Brain function in ASD ; Brain development in ASD -- Comment -- 9. Proximal causes 1: Diagnostic behaviours : Socio-emotional-communicative impairments : What has to be explained ; Explanatory theories -- Restricted and repetitive behaviours : What has to be explained ; explanatory theories -- 10. Proximal causes 2: Additional shared characteristics and major specifiers : Additional shared characteristics : Imagination and creativity: strengths and weaknesses ; Islets of ability ; Uneven motor skills ; Impaired sense of self -- Major specifiers : Learning disability ; Language impairment -- Part III. Practical issues : Assessment, diagnosis and screening : Assessment -- Diagnosis : Why diagnose? ; The diagnostic pathway ; Methods for diagnosing ASD -- Screening : Why screen? ; Methods of screening for ASD -- Intervention : The aims of intervention -- Pros and cons of intervention : Prevention and cure ; Treatment -- Possibilities for prevention and cure : Prevention ; Care -- Treatment methods : Discriminating between the options ; Evidence-based versus non-evidence-based treatments ; Evidence-based non-physical treatments ; Borderline evidence-based non-physical treatments ; Evidence-based physical treatments ; Borderline evidence-based physical treatments ; Non-evidence-based physical treatments ; Unproven does not necessarily mean useless -- Future directions -- Care : Inclusion : The principle of inclusion -- Families and care : Roles ; Sources of stress ; Support needs -- Other care providers : Substitute care for children ; Residential arrangements for adults -- Accessing services and rights : Services and organizations ; Human rights.

What is meant by "autistic spectrum disorder" (ASD)? What behaviours do people with ASD share regardless of age, ability and individual differences: What causes ASD? Is ASD increasingly common? And are males more often affected than females? How may people with ASD best be helped to live fulfilling lives a valued members of society? Can ASD be - should it be - 'cured'? The updated and extensively revised 2nd edition of this popular book explores answers to these questions based on the latest developments in research and practice. Individual chapters summarise what is known about the 'first causes ' of ASD, their effects on the brain, and on psychological functioning. Other chapters summarise methods of assessment, treatment, education and support. Illustrated with real-life accounts of people with ASD and examples of current 'best practice', this book provides essential information in an accessible and lively form.