Diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Lifespan Perspective / Edition 1

by Donald P. Gallo

Overview

Diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorders

The past decade has seen a tremendous increase in the number of people being diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders – and not just young children. Diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Lifespan Perspective is the first volume of its kind to provide authoritative information for professionals on how to appropriately evaluate and diagnose these disorders in individuals of all ages.

Donald P. Gallo, a board-certified clinical psychologist, shares his professional insights and expertise garnered from more than 1,500 autism evaluations over the past ten years. The book includes in-depth interviewing strategies that focus on the three primary areas of impairment – socialization, communication, and behavior – to determine if an individual has an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Differential diagnostic considerations are also addressed, and numerous case examples provide further clarity. Ways to present the assessment findings to parents and patients that will help them accept the diagnosis are also included. The information is targeted specifically for a wide range of practitioners, including child psychologists, child psychiatrists, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, paediatricians, paediatric neurologists, and students in those disciplines.

Authoritative and timely, Diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Lifespan Perspective provides medical and mental health professionals everywhere with an invaluable resource for the proper diagnoses and assessment of an exceedingly complex disorder which affects people of all ages.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780470749234
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	04/26/2010
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.60(w) x 9.50(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Donald P. Gallo is a psychologist for Kaiser-Permanente’s Autism Spectrum Disorders Diagnostic Service in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. Dr Gallo is board certified in Clinical Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology and maintains a private practice in Woodland Hills, California.

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Table of Contents

Preface ix

Acknowledgements xiii

About the Author xv

1 A Brief Look at the History of Autism 1

2 The Importance of the Autism Referral 5

3 How to Conduct the Evaluation 17

4 Information to Gather at the Outset of the Evaluation 33

5 Diagnostic Criteria for the Autism Spectrum Disorders 39

6 The Main Problem Areas of Autism: Social Impairment 45

7 The Main Problem Areas of Autism: Language Impairment 61

8 The Main Problem Areas of Autism: Behavioral Concerns 79

9 Additional Questions to be Asked when Interviewing Teens 87

10 Additional Questions to be Asked when Interviewing Adults 97

11 Other Important Factors to Take into Consideration 105

12 Differential Diagnosis through the Lifespan 117

13 Feedback for the Patient and Family/Parents 143

Appendix A Sample Copy of My Questionnaire 151

Appendix B Sample Copies of Reports 157

References 179

Index 181

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Dr Gallo has written an extremely helpful guide to learning how to diagnose autism spectrum disorders across the lifespan while also addressing the many myths and misconceptions associated with diagnosis and evaluation. His own experiences are excellent examples of the challenges faced by providers and parents through the diagnostic process and thereafter. Both professionals and parents will find this guide user-friendly as Dr Gallo explains the diagnostic process."
—Pegeen Cronin, PhD, Assistant Clinical Professor, UCLA Autism Evaluation Clinic, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA