Autism in Pediatric Practice: A Clinician's Guide

Tailored for pediatric primary care, this guide empowers clinicians to support children on the autism spectrum through clear frameworks and practical tools. It covers screening, diagnosis, behavioral management, therapy options, co-occurring conditions, and effective strategies for engaging families. Designed specifically for the pediatric primary care setting, Autism in Pediatric Practice: A Clinician's Guide is a practical, educational resource that supports clinicians in caring for children on the autism spectrum, with a particular focus on early childhood. This guide strengthens the clinician's knowledge base while providing a clear framework for delivering thoughtful, effective care within the medical home. Key concepts are introduced through hypothetical case vignettes and explored in depth throughout each chapter, helping clinicians translate theory into everyday practice. The guide includes practical tools for clinical documentation and resources for parent education to enable pediatric primary care clinicians to effectively engage in patient care and support families of autistic children. Topics include Etiology, presentation, screening, and diagnosis Strategies for optimizing office visits, including scheduling considerations, office accommodations, and billing and coding Understanding and management of behavioral challenges Therapy options, including guidance for choosing appropriate therapies and information on pharmacological and complementary approaches Management of co-occurring conditions, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, insomnia, and gastrointestinal symptoms and conditions Care transition planning Special education services, including evaluations, early intervention, and the individualized education program process