Behavioral interventions in children and adolescents with au... : Current Opinion in Pediatrics

Behavioral interventions in children and adolescents with au... : Current Opinion in Pediatrics: Purpose of review: The study provides an overview of recent studies on behavioral interventions for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Recent findings: Recent reviews of the effectiveness of early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) conclude that EIBI can improve language and cognitive skills. The first randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a comprehensive early intervention for toddlers with ASD demonstrated gains in language, cognitive abilities, and adaptive behavior. Targeted, brief behavioral interventions are efficacious for improving social communication in young children with ASD. Parents can be taught to deliver behavioral interventions, which are associated with improvements in parent–child interaction; effects on child outcome, however, have been mixed. Several studies show that social skills interventions are efficacious for improving peer relationships and social competence. Behavioral interventions are also effective for reducing anxiety symptoms and aggression. Medication combined with behavioral intervention was found to be more effective for reducing aggression than medication alone.
Summary: Behavioral interventions are effective for improving language, cognitive abilities, adaptive behavior, and social skills, and reducing anxiety and aggression. Medication combined with behavioral intervention appears to be more effective for reducing aggressive behavior than medication alone.

At granny's house: More children raised by grandparents than before | Deseret News National

At granny's house: More children raised by grandparents than before | Deseret News National: The number of children being raised by their grandparents shot up, doubling from 2000's 2.4 million to 4.9 million in 2010, according to U.S. Census figures.

Many times, situations arise in which a child can no longer safely live with a biological parent or legal guardian, Mary Jane Di Paolo, assistant director of Community Child Care Solutions, told USA Today and the New Jersey Courier News. She said that New Jersey's Department of Child and Families tries to place children first with relatives and acquaintances whom the child knows, which may be one reason more children are living with grandparents.