Michael A. Ellis
When a professional states, "Your child has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)", it is enough to make your whole world fall apart. What does it mean to be on the autism spectrum? How will this affect your child's life, your life, the life of your family, and others you interact with? What sorts of
medications, therapies, and alternative methods are used to help manage the disorder? What are the financial and legal ramifications? How will this affect schooling, your spiritual growth, and everyday life? These are just a few of the questions that will rapidly cross your mind.
Caring
for Autism: Practical Advice from a Parent and Physician delves into all these questions and more. As the father of a daughter with ASD and as a trained psychiatrist who specializes in ASD, Dr. Michael A. Ellis provides a holistic view of what comes after diagnosis. In user-friendly tones, he
answers the most commonly asked questions about what it's actually like to live with ASD, what medications and therapies are available, and the global impact it has on the child's environment. With the help of his wife, Lori Layton Ellis, to provide a mother's perspective, Dr. Ellis shares personal
stories of their 10-year journey in order to provide insight and support for anyone - patient, parent, caregiver - traversing the difficulties of autism.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Contributor List
1. A Father's Perspective on Autism
- My Child's Diagnosis
- Why Did This Happen to My Child
- Lessons Learned
2. A Mother's Perspective on Autism, Lori Layton Ellis, BS, MPH
3. Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism
Spectrum Disorder
- History of Autism
- The Symptoms of ASD
- Diagnoses That Mimic ASD
- Common Comorbid Disorders
- Screening and Diagnostic Instruments
- Medical Work-Up of Your Child
- Other Referrals Needed
4. What Causes Autism?
- Possible Causes of
Autism
- Brain Differences in Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Genetic Causes
- Environmental Causes
- OBGYN Recommendations
5. Autism's Effect on the Whole Family
- Impact of ASD on the Family
- Parenting Efficacy (Am I A Good Parent?)
- Parenting Stress
- The Effect
of ASD on Parents' Health
- Hardships of Parenting a Child with ASD
- How Environment Affects the Child with ASD
- ASD's Impact on Siblings
- The Cost of ASD
- Quality of Life and Well-Being
- What Should I Do?
- Coping and Acceptance
- Social Support
-
Interventions/ Therapies
6. Psychopharmacology- Should I use Medications for My Child?
- What Symptoms Can Be Treated with Medications?
- Stimulants
- Nonstimulants
- Other Medications That May Be Used Off-Label for ADHD
- Atypical (Second-Generation) Antipsychotic
Medications
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
- Antiepileptic (Anticonvulsant) Drugs
- Glutamatergic and Gamma-Aminobutyric Acidergic Agents
- Cholinergic Agents
- Oxytocin
- Other Agents
- Sleep
- Pharmacogenetic Testing
7. Complementary and
Alternative Medicine Therapies (CAM) for ASD
- Gluten-Free/Casein-Free Diet
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- Vitamin B6
- Artificial Food Colors
- Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
- Chemical Chelation
- Melatonin
- Cannabis (THC) Oil
- Tips on the Use of CAM
8.
Non-Medication Therapies for ASD
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI)
- Developmental Relationship-Based Approaches
- Comprehensive Treatment Models for Early Intervention for Preschool Children
- Parent Training
- Social Skills
Groups
- TEACCH Program
- Speech Therapy
- General Recommendations
9. The Educational System and ASD
- Disciplinary Action
- 11 Important Points for IEPs
- Predictors of Your Child's Educational Success
10. Long-Term Planning and Legal Issues
- Health
Insurance
Medicaid Waiver Programs
- Guardianship
- Special Needs Trust
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance/Disabled Adult Child Benefits (SSDI)
11. Stages of Grief, Spirituality, and Religion
- Meaning-Making Theory of Grief
-
Religion in the Individual with ASD
12. Navigating the Journey
About the Author
Index
There are no Instructor/Student Resources available at this time.
Dr. Michael A. Ellis was born and raised in Vero Beach, FL. He attended medical school at Nova Southeastern School of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency and fellowship at the Medical College of Georgia. He is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and expert in treating Autism
Spectrum Disorder. He seeks to educate the parents of children with ASD to help both the parents and the children navigate the medical and lifestyle challenges on this life-long journey. He has a wife and 3 children and the oldest child, currently 13 years old, has autism spectrum disorder.
The Autisms - Edited by Craig M. Powell and Lisa M. Monteggia
Autism Spectrum Disorder - Edited by Christopher McDougle
Teaching Music to Students with Autism - Alice M. Hammel and Ryan M. Hourigan
Children and Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) - Edited by James K. Luiselli
Oxford Textbook of Psychopathology - Edited by Paul H. Blaney, Robert F. Krueger and Theodore Millon
