Social and Communication Development in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Early Identification, Diagnosis, and Intervention

From leading clinical researchers, this book presents important advances in understanding and treating the early social-communication difficulties that are hallmarks of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). It is grounded in current findings on typically and atypically developing infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Contributors highlight the connections between ASD and impairments in joint attention, communication and language, play, and imitation. They review approaches to supporting children's functioning in each area, along with evidence-based screening and assessment strategies. Valuable advice is offered on matching treatment to individual children's needs. The book also explores the developmental and neurobiological processes that underlie social-communication deficits in ASD.

Tony Charman, PhD, is Professor of Neurodevelopmental Disorders in the Behavioural and Brain Sciences Unit at the Institute of Child Health, University College London. He studies early social-cognitive development in children with autism and the clinical application of this work via screening, diagnostic, outcome, early intervention, and epidemiological studies. Dr. Charman is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, Associate Editor of the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, and is on the editorial/advisory boards of Autism, Autism Research, British Journal of Developmental Psychology,Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, and Research into Autism Spectrum Disorders. He has served on a number of expert panels for the Medical Research Council in the United Kingdom and the National Institutes of Health in the United States, and is a scientific member of the Advisory Group to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Autism.

Wendy Stone, PhD, is Professor of Psychology and Director of the READi Lab (Research in Early Autism Detection and Intervention) at the University of Washington. Her primary research interests are early identification and intervention in autism, and the influence of early social-communicative development on later behavioral and diagnostic outcomes. She developed the Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers (STAT), and conducts research on improving community health care practices for toddlers with autism through implementation of early screening and evidence-based interventions. Dr. Stone serves on the editorial board of Autism Research, on the autism advisory panel for Sesame Street/Workshop, and on the Baby Siblings Research Consortium.