Autism Solutions: How to Create a Healthy and Meaningful Life for Your Child Book

Acknowledgments ix

Foreword Stanley I. Greenspan xii

Preface xv

Part I Is It Autism?

1 Ryan 3

2 What Is Autism? 8

3 What Causes Autism? 24

Part II Before Your Child is Evaluated

4 Understanding Social and Emotional Development 41

5 How Your Child Experiences the World Around Him: The Sensory-Motor System in Action 50

6 A Comprehensive Evaluation and Treatment Approach-DIR/Floortime 68

Part III Determining Whether Your Child Has Autism-and Knowing What to Do

7 The Evaluation Process 79

8 Treatment Plans 106

9 Staying on Track 141

10 ASD and the Family 153

Part IV Your Child's Communication Issues

11 Behavior as Communication 171

12 Augmentative and Alternative Communication 184

Part V Your Child's Health

13 Keeping Your Child Healthy 195

14 Medical Conditions and ASD 213

15 ASD and Double Syndromes 218

16 Seizure Disorders in ASD 223

17 Gastrointestinal (GI) Illness 236

18 Allergies and Immunological Disorders 248

19 Sleep Disorders 255

20 Understanding Medication and Its Use in ASD 265

21 Long-Term Medical Complications 298

Part VI Creating a Meaningful Life for Your Child

22 Fostering Independence 307

23 Education 326

24 Sports, Socializing and Relationships 343

25 Transition to Adulthood 354

Epilogue 367

Appendices 368

Resources 389

References 402

Index 420