Emerging Programs For Autism Spectrum Disorder

Emerging Programs for Autism Spectrum Disorder: Improving Communication, Behavior, and Family Dynamics brings forward a hybrid and a transdisciplinary methodology to identify methods used to diagnose, treat, and manage those with autism within personal and social constructs and values building exemplary international experiences from across the globe. Luminary experts offer their superb level of expertise through their research, experience, and clinical work. The book addresses all the aspects of care, lifespan, and lifestyle issues from treatment to living. It will emphasize issues related to neurodiversity, individuality, best practices, and support of people on the Autism Spectrum and their families. In addition, this book includes specific case studies, highlighting family experiences and the application of best practices by therapists thereof. Provides a multidisciplinary approach of the diagnosis, management and treatment of autism spectrum disorders Includes specific case studies highlighting family experiences Emphasizes issues related to neurodiversity, individuality and improving quality of life

With a variety of emerging and innovative technologies combined with the active participation of the human element as the major connection between the end user and the digital realm, the pervasiveness of human-computer interfaces is at an all time high. Emerging Research and Trends in Interactivity and the Human-Computer Interface addresses the main issues of interest within the culture and design of interaction between humans and computers. By exploring the emerging aspects of design, development, and implementation of interfaces, this book will be beneficial for academics, HCI developers, HCI enterprise managers, and researchers interested in the progressive relationship of humans and technology.

Developing novel and more effective treatments that improve quality of life for individuals with autism spectrum disorders is urgently needed. To date a wide range of behavioral interventions have been shown to be safe and effective for improving language and cognition and adaptive behavior in children and adolescents with ASD. However many people with ASD can receive additional benefit from targeted pharmacological interventions. One of the major drawback in setting up therapeutics intervention is the remarkable individual differences found across individuals with ASD. As a matter of fact the medications that are currently available address only symptoms associated with ASD and not the core domains of social and communication dysfunction. The pathogenesis paradigm shift of ASD towards synaptic abnormalities moved the research to pathway to disease that involve multiple systems and that are becoming the forefront of ASD treatment and are pointing toward the development of new targeted treatments. Some new therapeutics have been tested and others are being studied. In this context single gene disorders frequently associated with ASD such as Rett Syndrome, Fragile X and Tuberous Sclerosis have been of significant aid as neurobiology of these disorders is more clear and has a potential to shed light on the altered signaling in ASD. However much research is needed to further understand the basic mechanisms of disease and the relationship to idiopathic ASD. Clinical trials in children are underway with agents directed to core symptoms and to the associated disorders in the search of new therapeutics and progress are expected with possible new option for therapeutics in ASD in the upcoming future. Children and Adolescents with ASD and their families can provide important information about their experience with new treatments and this should be a priority for future research. In addition, research performed on genetic mouse models of ASD will keep on providing useful information on the molecular pathways dysrupted in the disease, thus contributing to identify novel drug targets.

This international collection provides a comprehensive overview of cutting-edge research on autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) by well-known experts in the field, stressing the importance of early diagnosis and a good working relationship between parents and professionals. The contributors cover a wide range of aspects of ASDs, from early assessment techniques, neurodevelopment and brain function to language development, executive function and genetic research. They explore how individuals with ASDs think and give evidence-based guidance on how to handle difficulties with social interaction and language development using appropriate interventions. New Developments in Autism will be of great interest to professionals, researchers, therapists, parents and people with ASDs.

Music is an important source of enjoyment, learning, and well-being in life as well as a rich, powerful, and versatile stimulus for the brain. With the advance of modern neuroimaging techniques during the past decades, we are now beginning to understand better what goes on in the healthy brain when we hear, play, think, and feel music and how the structure and function of the brain can change as a result of musical training and expertise. For more than a century, music has also been studied in the field of neurology where the focus has mostly been on musical deficits and symptoms caused by neurological illness (e.g., amusia, musicogenic epilepsy) or on occupational diseases of professional musicians (e.g., focal dystonia, hearing loss). Recently, however, there has been increasing interest and progress also in adopting music as a therapeutic tool in neurological rehabilitation, and many novel music-based rehabilitation methods have been developed to facilitate motor, cognitive, emotional, and social functioning of infants, children and adults suffering from a debilitating neurological illness or disorder. Traditionally, the fields of music neuroscience and music therapy have progressed rather independently, but they are now beginning to integrate and merge in clinical neurology, providing novel and important information about how music is processed in the damaged or abnormal brain, how structural and functional recovery of the brain can be enhanced by music-based rehabilitation methods, and what neural mechanisms underlie the therapeutic effects of music. Ideally, this information can be used to better understand how and why music works in rehabilitation and to develop more effective music-based applications that can be targeted and tailored towards individual rehabilitation needs. The aim of this Research Topic is to bring together research across multiple disciplines with a special focus on music, brain, and neurological rehabilitation. We encourage researchers working in the field to submit a paper presenting either original empirical research, novel theoretical or conceptual perspectives, a review, or methodological advances related to following two core topics: 1) how are musical skills and attributes (e.g., perceiving music, experiencing music emotionally, playing or singing) affected by a developmental or acquired neurological illness or disorder (for example, stroke, aphasia, brain injury, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, autism, ADHD, dyslexia, focal dystonia, or tinnitus) and 2) what is the applicability, effectiveness, and mechanisms of music-based rehabilitation methods for persons with a neurological illness or disorder? Research methodology can include behavioural, physiological and/or neuroimaging techniques, and studies can be either clinical group studies or case studies (studies of healthy subjects are applicable only if their findings have clear clinical implications).

This book evaluates how autism is experienced and addressed in four areas critical to the developmental phase of adulthood: self-awareness, individuality, comprehensive support systems, and the dissemination of information and expanded education. The editors present comprehensive coverage of new developments in the field of adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), particularly with regards to the updating of diagnostic criteria in the DSM-5 and an increased level of interest in research on adults with ASD. Contributors also make recommendations regarding services that should be provided to people with ASD based on recognition of their needs, the frequent lack of accessibility to relevant services, and an understanding of how a person's living situation both influences and is influenced by the way they conduct their lives. Among the topics discussed: The distinctive stage of Emerging Adulthood in individuals with ASD Late diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder Sexuality and romantic relationships among people with ASD Parents, siblings, and communities of individuals with ASD Cultural-demographic influences on life choices among people with ASD Adult women on the high-functioning autism spectrum The experience of academia and employment for people with ASD Autism in Adulthood is a unique resource for professionals, clinicians, researchers and caregivers that emphasizes both theoretical and practical information regarding ASD in the critical adult stage of life.

This volume, originally a special issue of the Journal of Consciousness Studies, uses the recent writings of Philip Goff as a jumping-off point for discussions of panpsychism — the idea that consciousness is a fundamental and pervasive aspect of our universe that cannot be understood in other, more basic, terms. The contributors to this book explore various issues of panpsychism from the perspectives of science, philosophy, and theology. Some papers focus on further motivating and developing the panpsychist position. Others explore various challenges that the panpsychist faces. Collectively, they shed new and important light not only on panpsychism, but on the fundamental question of the place of consciousness in nature more generally.

An At-Home Guide to Children’s Sensory and Behavioral Problems gives a new perspective on sensory and behavior problems, one that sees those behaviors as stemming from a child’s immature sensory nervous system and regulation difficulties. This book offers an effective at-home intervention, the Qigong Sensory Treatment, that enlists a parent's attuned touch to address often overlooked sensory issues that underlie ‘problem’ behaviors and works to organize those sensory experiences to foster connection and the capacity for self-regulation. It introduces the reader to a new and clinically useful model to understand sensory development, the Early Childhood Self-regulatory Milestones which are critical to the emotional and behavioral health and regulation for all children. With clear step-by-step instructions, diagrams, and links to online instructional videos, it teaches parents how to successfully implement the daily QST hands-on routine. Unique to the treatment model is how it guides and focuses parents to easily recognize, interpret and respond to their child's shifting non-verbal body and behavioral responses and cues. An extensive workbook section navigates parents through a year-long process of learning and implementing QST at home. Weekly letters include those written by the authors, parents who share their own personal experiences with the routine and by QST Master Trainers who offer their years of experience and helpful tips. The 52 letters are timed to anticipate and answer typical questions or stumbling blocks that parents commonly encounter at key points, guiding them to success with their child’s sensory and behavior difficulties while making for happier and less-stressful times with their child. This guide will be indispensable to parents and clinicians looking to understand and more effectively work with their child’s developmental difficulties.