Code A250

Autism Spectrum Disorder in Young Children: A Visual Guide/ Volume I: An Overview, Learning to Observe Across the Three Symptom Domains' (DVD)
Produced by: Patricia Towle, Ph.D., Clinical Child Psychologist
Westchester Institute for Human Development
University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
Valhalla, NY

$119.99

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is no longer seen as a rare condition, but one that can affect any family in any walk of life. Parents are usually the first to realize something is "different" about their child, but often have to wait for months, or even years, before a professional provides them with a diagnosis and guidance for all-important early intervention. For this reason, the more individuals who can contribute to early identification of young children with ASD, the better.

This DVD addresses this need by providing explicit instruction in how to observe key behaviors in young children to help make a judgment about possible autism. Extensive video illustrations are from home movies of children with autism spectrum disorder, with comparison to typically developing children filmed for this project.

For professionals-in-training across pediatric healthcare and child development professions, this training complements course instruction and clinical rotations. For established professionals, it enhances previous training. For those in a position to refer a child's family for evaluation, the DVD provides clear examples of "what to look for."

Volume 1 presents an overview of issues in detecting ASD in young children, and a review of the three symptom domains of Social Interaction, Communication, and Repetitive Behaviors. Subsequent volumes treat each of these three domains in greater detail. Table of Contents

Part 1: Introduction and Overview
Section 1. Overview of Visual Guide Series and Volume 1
Section 2. Overview of autism spectrum disorders in young children

Part 2: Social Interaction
Section 1: Overview; Social behavior elements: seeking proximity, eye contact, monitoring faces and eyes, sharing affect, signaling affect, imitation, turn-taking
Section 2. Social Functions: initiating, responding, maintaining

Part 3: Communication
Section 1. Overview; Communication modalities and their coordination: eye contact, gesture, and vocalization
Section 2. Intentional communication: request, comment, negate, protest, greet, answer, acknowledge
Section 3. Atypical communication: echolalia, scripting, atypical babbling, instrumental communication, unusual prosody
Section 4. Joint attention

Part 4. Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors
Section 1. Overview; Organization model
Section 2. Repetitive Behaviors: seeking and avoiding sensation, seeking visual stimulation, interest in cause-effect mechanism and parts of objects, seeking to maintain sameness, areas of high interest and ability

Conclusion
90 minute, DVD

Reviews for: Autism Spectrum Disorders in Young Children: A Visual Guide
Produced by: Patricia Towle PhD, Westchester Institute for Human Development

Review 1 Eric Hollander, MD
Dr. Patty Towle's DVD "Autism Spectrum Disorder in Young Children: A Visual Guide" is a superb resource for clinicians, investigators, educators and even parents who deal with children with autism spectrum disorders. I can think of no other resource that so clearly illustrates the developmental profile of the three core symptom domains that are essential to making an early diagnosis of autism. We all know that early diagnosis is critical for implementing interventions that improve the long term developmental trajectory of the illness. This DVD clearly visually illustrates the earliest manifestations and subtle differences in development of social function, communication and repetitive behaviors that are essential for the early diagnosis of autism. All children need to been screened twice before the age of two for symptoms of autism, and this visual guide can improve the expertise of those who are doing the early screening. As such, it can serve as an invaluable resource in early detection of autism.

Eric Hollander, MD
Research Attending Psychiatrist, MontefioreMedical CenterUniversity Hospital of Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Editor-American Psychiatric Publishing Clinical Manual of Autism Spectrum Disorders, and the forthcoming Textbook of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Chair, Advisory Board, International Center for Autism Research and Education, Inc. (Icare4autism).

Review 2 Tony Attwood, Ph.D., adjunct Associate Professor, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia

I was extremely impressed with not only the content but especially the graphics and photography. The descriptions are up-to-date regarding the latest research on diagnosis and obviously great care has been taken to provide clear descriptions. Overall, I was very impressed with the DVD and look forward to the other volumes in the series.

Professor Tony Attwood
Clinic Tel: +61 7 3285 7888
Web: www.tonyattwood.com.au

Review 3 Victoria Shea, Ph.D., Division TEACCH, University of North Carolina

In present and past approaches to training in autism spectrum disorders (ASD), so much has been written but so little has been shown, even though seeing children's behaviors is much more meaningful for trainees and young professionals. This 'visual guide' presents information about the behaviors of young children with ASD in an innovative way, using video clips of both typically developing children and children diagnosed with ASD. These clips are interspersed with informative commentaries by the psychologist-producer, Dr. Patricia Towle, an expert in early childhood development and disorders. There is also an accompanying pamphlet that covers the key points in written form.

The first volume is an overview of the three areas of symptomotology: social differences, atypical communication patterns, and restricted or repetitive behaviors. There is also important introductory information to help viewers understand, for example, that a diagnosis of autism does not represent a checklist of behaviors and difficulties, but rather a profile unique to each individual, and that skills are not necessarily lacking in children with ASD, but instead seen less frequently than in typical children. Using a variety of video clips, diagnostic terms are gently and respectfully illustrated in the context of family routines or play sessions.

This overview and the future volumes that will cover material in more depth represent a major contribution to the field. They will be useful for all professionals in a position to interact with, screen, or diagnose young children with possible ASD.

Victoria Shea, Ph.D.
Psychologist, Division TEACCH
Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Review 4 Patricia A. Prelock, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, University of Vermont

Dr. Towle provides an incredible learning and teaching tool for providers and families on early identification of Autism Spectrum Disorder. She outlines the core deficit areas and offers a critical perspective on the continuum of variability that exists when assessing areas of concern. The contrasting video clips between children with and without autism are powerful and will facilitate providers' understanding of typical development in the context of children with or at risk for ASD. This will be a teaching tool I will be using in my coursework and training.

Patricia A. Prelock, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Dean, College of Nursing & Health Sciences Professor, Communication Sciences Professor, Pediatrics