Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) were first reported in China in 1982. Since then, autism and other related disorders have been recognized by both the public and professionals. The importance of early intervention for children with ASD is becoming more accepted throughout China. A survey was designed to investigate the status of early intervention…

The purpose of this study was to identify current practices in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) screening among early intervention and care providers in Indiana. Participants were asked about their ASD screening practices within the context of overall screening for developmental delays. Results indicated that providers conduct ASD screening less…

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends screening children for developmental delay and autism. Studies of current screening practice to date have been limited in scope and primarily focused on small, local samples. This study is designed to determine compliance with AAP screening recommendations: (1) developmental screening at 9, 18,…

Prenatal alcohol exposure can result in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), which can include physical and neurobehavioral disorders, including cognitive, social, language, and motor impairments that can persist throughout life. In order for children with FASD to receive the full benefit of services, recognition of their disability needs to…

Behavioral insomnias of childhood (BIC) and sleep disordered breathing (SDB) disorders cause disrupted and/or inefficient sleep. Left untreated in early childhood, both conditions increase the risk of compromised development, particularly in the areas of behavior, cognition, and growth. This systematic review determined whether and how current…

Early identification and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children younger than age 3 years is becoming an increasingly common area of concern and study. Research suggests that systematic, early intervention can significantly improve outcomes and reduce the cost of caring for children with ASD through the lifespan. Therefore, it is…

Developmental and behavioral problems in young children are prevalent in the United States. While young children experience an increased prevalence of such problems, a lack of early identification services continues to exist. Not only are early identification services required under American law, such as the Individual with Disabilities Education…

The wide scale use of developmental screening measures in programs such as Head Start and Healthy Start has been accompanied by a range of questions about the application and potential functions of screening measures. While screening tests were designed to identify those children who should be seen for in-depth developmental assessment,…

The dramatic increase in the identification of young children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) beginning in the 1980s presented many challenges to State Education Agencies responsible for Special Education for school aged children and State Part C Lead Agencies responsible for Early Intervention services for infants and toddlers under the…

In the first year of life, infants who later go on to develop autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) may exhibit subtle disruptions in social interest and attention, communication, temperament, and head circumference growth that occur prior to the onset of clinical symptoms. These disruptions may reflect the early course of ASD development and may also…

Since 2000, there has been an increasing emphasis on screening for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) during well-child visits (P. A. Filipek et al., 2000; C. P. Johnson & S. M. Myers, 2007). Pediatricians surveyed in 2 mid-Atlantic states reported extremely low rates of screening for ASD (8% of participants) in comparison with higher rates of…

This article describes hearing screening procedures and discusses implications and limitations of passing screening tests, being referred for rescreening, and failing the test. Follow-up intervention and evaluation that may be needed for children with hearing loss are discussed, and practical advice for professionals involved with screening and…

This article describes two studies that examined the concurrent and predictive validity of the Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales Developmental Profile (CSBS DP), a measure for identifying children less than 24 months old who are at risk for communication disorders. Findings support the use of prelinguistic predictors and the important…

This introductory article discusses the large numbers of infants and young children affected by behavioral and emotional problems that pose salient challenges for clinical assessment and management. It examines barriers to the delivery of mental health services and stresses the need to develop data concerning efficacy and effectiveness of…

This article reviews the clinical literature regarding self-injurious behavior in infants and young children with particular emphasis on the developmental aspects of the behavior. It also discusses ways that the behavior is identified, methods of clinical assessment, and appropriate clinical interventions. The final section addresses unmet…