DESCRIPTION
This module presents the topic of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in young children, which includes a brief overview of the characteristics of ASD and some “red flags” that may indicate symptoms of ASD at an early age.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

  • Recognize the symptoms of ASD in children at a young age (12-18 months).
  • Identify methods to document and monitor child behaviors, have a conversation with parents, and refer to a professional.
  • Recognize the importance of early identification of signs/symptoms of ASD as helpful to provide early intervention.

HANDOUT
Autism Spectrum Disorder Handout

RESOURCES
Books
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Neurodevelopmental disorders. In Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed., text rev.).

Matson, J. L. (Ed.). (2018). Handbook of Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Springer.

Rogers, S. J., Dawson, G. (2010). Early Start Denver Model for Young Children with Autism. The Guilford Press.

Articles
Brewer, N., Young, R. L., & Lucas, C. A. (2020). Autism Screening in Early Childhood: Discriminating Autism from Other Developmental Concerns. Frontiers in Neurology, 11, 594381.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2020.594381/full

Coulter, K. L., Barton, M. L., Robins, D. L., Stone, W. L., & Fein, D. A. (2021). DSM-5 Symptom Expression in Toddlers. Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, 25(6), 1653–1665. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613211000160

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8324506/pdf/nihms-1674590.pdf

Duvall, S., Armstrong, K., Shahabuddin, A., Grantz, C., Fein, D., & Lord, C. (2022). A Road Map for Identifying Autism Spectrum Disorder: Recognizing and Evaluating Characteristics that Should Raise Red or “Pink” Flags to Guide Accurate Differential Diagnosis. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 36(5), 1172-1207.
https://robertduworsphd.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/ASD-Pink-Flags-2021.pdf

Martínez-Pedraza, F.deL., & Carter, A. S. (2009). Autism Spectrum Disorders in Young Children. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 18(3), 645–663. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2009.02.002

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3166636/pdf/nihms-309152.pdf

Zachariah, S.M., Oommen, S.P., ; Koshy, B.. Clinical Features and Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children. Current Medical Issues 15(1):p 6-16, Jan–Mar 2017. | DOI: 10.4103/0973-4651.200297 https://journals.lww.com/cmii/fulltext/2017/15010/clinical_features_and_diagnosis_of_autism_spectrum.4.aspx

Videos
Advanced in Early Diagnosis of ASD: https://youtu.be/R-QAjIt94U4?si=bKAE538b2-XqD5aX

Autism Internet Modules (Free): https://autisminternetmodules.org/

Early Signs of Autism Studied in Infants: https://youtu.be/wIoUX5s26WM?si=2Tu4GvssU_5RiCss

Kids at Play: Looking for Early Signs of Autism: https://youtu.be/34-yGI54sh4?si=2wrgxN9vcOLpxd5W

Past, Present, and Future of Early Intervention: A View Through the ASD Lens: https://youtu.be/oiZNeKFPuvU?si=6CnxolDwBoUfVlwy

Playing with Toys: Real Look at Autism Episode 5: https://youtu.be/V-c50HNnPg0?si=SKqqcgJkR625nE2c

Understanding the Early Start Denver Model: https://youtu.be/5iUk6vIOmGw?si=FHeU2USSUc0QtaLZ

What’s New in Early Intervention for ASD? https://youtu.be/UL44fLIQQzc?si=ybh9d32zDTajE8JJ

FOR FURTHER STUDY
Martin Luther College Courses
EDU9031 Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders

SPE2104 – Developmental Disabilities