Developmental approaches to autism treatment aim to establish strong interpersonal relationships through joint play. These approaches have emerging empirical support; however, there is a need for further research documenting the procedures and demonstrating their effectiveness. This pilot study evaluated changes in parent behavior and child autism…

Demonstrates that both male and female neonates habituate and dishabituate to repeated and novel speech sounds. Results of a head-turning sound-localization task with 24 full-term neonates showed two basic processes: spatial orientation to sounds and response decrement to repeated speech sounds followed by response increment to novel speech…

The author reviews recent literature dealing with teaching autistic children acceptable behaviors. Using E. Ornitz and E. Ritvo's description of autism, teaching procedures to overcome weaknesses in perceptual difficulties, bizarre movement, and problems in relating are discussed. (CL)