A reaction to Sowell's book raises issues about behaviorally based diagnoses, stressing that developmental disorders are behaviorally defined dimensions along a continuum with no crisp partition between normalcy and disorders. It sees developmental disorders as usually the expression of extremely complex, multigenic influences on brain…

The factor structure of the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) was examined with 383 individuals (aged 5-22 years) with autism spectrum disorders. A five-factor model accounted for 80% of the total variance. However, no support was found for classifying the checklist's 57 items into the previously proposed five subscales. (Contains references.)…

The skills and social impairments of 146 adolescents and young adults in London who had been found to have severe intellectual disabilities and/or autism as children in the 1970s were assessed. Classification as socially impaired or not remained relatively stable over time. Within the socially impaired group, there was a significant increase in…

This population study of eight California birth cohorts (1987-1994) examined the degree to which improvements in detection and changes in diagnosis contribute to the observed increase in autism prevalence from 5.8 to 14.9 per 10,000. A decreasing prevalence of mental retardation without autism suggests that improvements in detection and changes in…

This study investigated associations between selected infant and maternal characteristics and autism risk in 4381 California children with autism. Increased risk factors were observed for males, multiple births, and children born to black mothers. Risk increased as maternal age and maternal education increased. Children of immigrant mothers had…

Effects of the Picture Exchange Communication System on the spontaneous communication skills and social interactions of a 6-year-old girl with autism across her home and school environments were evaluated. Results indicated increases in spontaneous language, increases in intelligible verbalizations in two of three settings, and changes in peer…

Comparison of children (n=6) with either autism or Asperger syndrome (AS) and children (n=9) with neither condition found overall postural instability was significantly reduced in autistic children compared with both AS and normal children and confirms the existence of a visuo-postural detuning in autistic children. Results suggest a…

This article reviews the extent and quality of empirical literature on social interaction for young children with autism, reviews existing descriptive and experimental research on relations between autism and characteristics that support social development, highlights possible directions for future research, and summarizes recommendations for…

Empirical studies evaluating speech and language intervention procedures applied to children with autism are reviewed and the documented benefits are summarized. In particular, interventions incorporating sign language, discrete-trial training, and milieu teaching procedures have been used successfully to expand the communication repertoires of…

This article evaluates the scientific basis (primarily gained through uncontrolled, descriptive studies) of various sensory and motor interventions for children with autism and concludes that most categories of interventions, including sensory integration, sensory stimulation approaches, auditory integration training, and prism lenses, have shown…

A review of 41 studies on behavioral interventions for children with autism (ages 0-8) found aggression, tantrums, self-injury, and stereotypy were behaviors most targeted. Results also indicate interventions should be developed based on a thorough analysis of biological, antecedent, and consequence events that control them. Behavioral support…

This article reviews elements of a well-designed treatment study and evaluates the state of knowledge about comprehensive treatment programs for children with autism. Several suggestions are made for improving future studies, including more rigorous designs, searching for active ingredients of treatment programs, and measuring change. (Contains…

This article analyzes outcome measures used in intervention research with young children with autism, including 72 reports evaluating specific intervention practices and 15 reports of complete intervention programs. Results indicate measurement of mediating variables is essentially absent in the evaluation reports and there is a lack of other…

This article reviews provisions of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act as they apply to students with autism. It also discusses anti-discrimination provisions in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and their relevance to students with autism. Eligibility for special education services, discipline, evaluation, student placement, and…

This article reviews substantive and procedural issues presented in due process and court cases involving policies and practices of educational programming for young children with autism. It discusses the legal standards used by hearing officers and judges and synthesizes case law. Recommendations are made for state and local policymakers.…