Autism
Autism is the most severe developmental disability. Appearing within the first three years of life, autism involves impairments in social interaction — such as being aware of other people’s feelings — and verbal and nonverbal communication.
Some people with autism have limited interests, strange eating or sleeping behaviors or a tendency to do things to hurt themselves, such as banging their heads or biting their hands.
Adapted from the Encyclopedia of Psychology
Treatment of Autism
- Facilitated Communication: Sifting the Psychological Wheat from the Chaff
If psychological research does not always give us hoped-for answers, it does help us sift potent reality from wishful thinking and focus our energy on real solutions.
- Autism treatment options
Today clinicians use medication and behavioral interventions to help children cope with autism.
News
-
Minority children with autism less likely to get care for complications
June 17, 2013, CBS News
-
Brain wave study sheds light on autism among toddlers
May 31, 2013, Los Angeles Times
-
New Research Suggests Possible Direction for Treatment of Autism
May 17, 2013, APA Press Release
-
How autism is different in girls vs. boys
May 8, 2013, Fox News
-
Developers dive in to create a wealth of autism apps
April 30, 2013, Chicago Tribune
Monitor on Psychology Articles
- Five major psychiatric disorders share genetic links
May 2013
- Catching autism earlier
October 2012
- Autism prevalence and the DSM
October 2012
- The beginnings of mental illness
February 2012
- A tailored approach for autistic youth?
December 2011
