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…

The purpose of this article was to describe a taxonomy of pretend play for children with disabilities based on a systematic review of the literature to characterize pretend play. Thirty-seven studies were identified as measuring pretend play in children with disabilities. Several inconsistencies were found in the measurement of pretend play across…

This study examined parent reports of 2 assessment approaches used for eligibility determination: conventional and authentic. Parents of children with and without disabilities completed a satisfaction survey following each of 2 assessments. Differences in how parents perceived the utility of developmental assessments based on the type of…

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…

This article describes an approach to evaluating and managing feeding disorders in children with developmental disabilities and examines effects of these management strategies on growth and clinical outcomes. A structured approach is stressed and a diagnostic and treatment algorithm is presented. Use with 79 children found that diagnostic-specific…

This article reviews studies of early diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder. It discusses diagnostic criteria, reliability of early diagnosis, and the need for a comprehensive evaluation. Currently, there are no objective measures that can be used for accurate diagnosis, and the diagnosis remains clinical. Guidelines for evaluation are provided.…

This article reviews common complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) treatments used to address symptoms of autistic spectrum disorders, including vitamin supplements, medications, antibiotics, antifungals, diet strategies, chelation/mercury detoxification, and nonbiologic treatments. Strategies that professionals may use in assessing the…

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 discusses attachment problems and disorders among infants and young children, the consequences of attachment problems in child development, and factors leading to attachment problems. It provides the current status of diagnostic criteria and classification systems means of assessment and available empirically supported interventions.…

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…

Sleep problems may occur in up to 88% of children with visual impairments who have developmental disabilities. The use of oral melatonin has recently been used for the management of sleep difficulties in children with and without disabilities. Sustained-release melatonin may reduce nighttime awakenings and increase total sleep time. (Contains…

The utility of cost-benefit analysis in program evaluation is illustrated using hypothetical examples of the consequences of natural environments service provision. Areas for further research related to cost and benefit implications are presented. Early intervention programs can use the cost-benefit framework to evaluate the social impact of…

This article reviews the nature and source of pain in young children with disabilities, challenges facing the clinician, and approaches for assessing and managing pain in infants and young children with significant neurologic impairments. The need for continued research to improve professional awareness and establish practice guidelines is urged.…

This article discusses the difficulties of early identification of Fragile X syndrome (FXS), provides an overview and analysis of existing screening checklists, and recommends a set of characteristics to enhance the identification process of infants and toddlers with FXS. Indicators address family history, behavior, social/communication,…

This article describes the use of measures of functional assessment of essential activities in self-care, mobility, communication, and social cognition in preschool children. An overview of functional assessment is provided, and psychometric properties of the various tests are described. Case studies illustrate the value of using functional…