Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have been increasingly diagnosed in recent years and carries with it far reaching social and financial implications. With this in mind, educators, physicians, and parents are searching for the best practices and most effective treatments. But because the symptoms of ASDs span multiple domains (e.g., communication and language, social, behavioral), successfully meeting the needs of a child with autism can be quite challenging.
Aiming to meet the current need for a synthesis of autism treatment research, this volume presents scientifically based guidelines to determine the strength of a treatments empirical base, supported by an amalgam of the available literature on the topic.
Part I: Introduction.- Evidence-Based Practices in Autism: Where We Started.- Development, Procedures, and Application of the Evaluative Method for Determining Evidence-Based Practices in Autism.-On the Reliability and Accuracy of the Evaluative Method for Identifying Evidence-Based Practices (EBP) in Autism.- Part II: Treatment Reviews.- Evidence-Based Treatment of Behavioral Excesses and Deficits for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders.- Evidence-Based Treatments in Communication for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.- Treatments to Increase Social Awareness and Social Skills.- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in High Functioning Autism: Review and Recommendations for Treatment Development.- Psychopharmacology in Children with PDD: Review of Current Evidence.- Interventions that Address Sensory Dysfunction for Individual's with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Preliminary Evidence for the Superiority of Sensory Integration Compared to Other Sensory Approaches.- Dietary, Complementary, and Alternative Treatments.- Part III: Research to Practice.- The Role of Adaptive Behavior in Evidence-Based Practices for ASD: Translating Treatment to Functional Success.- Practicing Evidence-Based Practice.- The Implementation of Evidence-Based Practices in Public Schools.- Evidence-Based Practices in Autism: Where We Are Now and Where We Need to Go.