Stella Acquarone, PhD, is the Director of the Parent-Infant Clinic of the School of Infant Mental Health in London and its branch in the USA. She is a practising adult and child psychotherapist and has worked in the NHS for thirty-one years. She is a member of the British Psychological Society, the Association of Child Psychotherapists, and the London Centre for Psychotherapy. She has pioneered studies in early infant clinical research and development, and lectures internationally on all aspects of infant-parent development and psychotherapy. She has written extensively in professional papers, journals and chapters in books, and has taught infant observational studies and new clinical strategies in working with disturbed children.

'Theories of autism have undergone many changes since it was originally defined by Kanner as an affective disorder caused by deficient parental interaction. Debates about emotional or organic origins determined subsequent plans of management. Each decade has brought its own contribution to understanding the condition. Since then autism has been identified as a developmental impairment due to a variety of causes which may include genetic, neurological, infectious, metabolic, immunologic and environmental factors, all contributing to atypical brain development, which in turn leads to the autistic child's 'deficient experience of intersubjectivity', as Peter Hobson has defined it. Neonatal research reveals that innate capacities for sociability, self-regulation, thought and language are activated through intensely bi-directional emotional interactions with others, within critical periods. Neonatal research also confirms that even genetic endowment is modified or inhibited by the specific emotional climate of the family environment into which each baby is born. Although the prevention of autism still lies in the future, this book offers hope of alleviating distress through psychodynamic therapeutic work with the family to enhance intersubjective communication and foster the growth potential of the infant. This book brings hope where despair has prevailed. It offers the prospect of early detection of prodromal signs of autism and the possibility of effective therapeutic mitigation of the parents' unbearable predicament of perpetually failing to engage a seemingly unresponsive infant.' - Professor Joan Raphael-Leff, from the Foreword 'This is a very interesting book which will be of value to health professionals, early years' practitioners and other professionals working with young children whose development is a cause for concern.'- Mary Mountstephen, SEN Magazine

• ContentsIntroduction: expectations and experiences of parents with a pre-autistic baby by Joan Raphael-LeffPART I History of early signs and interventions Chapter 1 The prodromal phase of autism and outcome of early treatment by Henry MassiePART II Research on early signs Chapter 2 Signs of autism in infancy: sensitivity for rhythms of expression in communication by Colwyn Trevarthen, C. St. Clair and Laurent Danon-BoileauChapter 3 Early signs of autism in the first year of life by Filippo Muratori and Sandra MaestroChapter 4 Early signs related to posture and communication-the child's attitude and the mother's reaction by Laurent Danon-BoileauChapter 5 The PREAUT research: evaluation of a consistent set of tools identifying early communication perturbations which could lead to a developmental disorder of the autistic spectrum by Graciela Cullere-CrespinPART III Approaches of early intervention Chapter 6 From a distance - early intervention as a way to attune and find a channel for communication by Stella AcquaroneChapter 7 Infants at risk - attachment disorders: Diagnosis and treatment by Hanna AlonimChapter 8 Prosody with babies at risk for autism: treatment and research by Marie-Christine LaznikChapter 9 Changing Destinies: The theory and practice of reaching emotionally withdrawn infants by Stella AcquaroneChapter 10 Helping toddlers to communicate: infant observation as an early intervention by Maria RhodePART IV Theoretical contributions Chapter 11 Me, You and the Others: on being born emotionally by Stella AcquaroneChapter 12 Developmental and autistic aspects of vocalisation by Maria RhodeSummary and conclusions: the case for training, early screening, early treatment and further research

Stella Acquarone, PhD, is the Director of the Parent-Infant Clinic of the School of Infant Mental Health in London and its branch in the USA. She is a practising adult and child psychotherapist and has worked in the NHS for thirty-one years. She is a member of the British Psychological Society, the Association of Child Psychotherapists, and the London Centre for Psychotherapy. She has pioneered studies in early infant clinical research and development, and lectures internationally on all aspects of infant-parent development and psychotherapy. She has written extensively in professional papers, journals and chapters in books, and has taught infant observational studies and new clinical strategies in working with disturbed children.

'Theories of autism have undergone many changes since it was originally defined by Kanner as an affective disorder caused by deficient parental interaction. Debates about emotional or organic origins determined subsequent plans of management. Each decade has brought its own contribution to understanding the condition. Since then autism has been identified as a developmental impairment due to a variety of causes which may include genetic, neurological, infectious, metabolic, immunologic and environmental factors, all contributing to atypical brain development, which in turn leads to the autistic child's 'deficient experience of intersubjectivity', as Peter Hobson has defined it. Neonatal research reveals that innate capacities for sociability, self-regulation, thought and language are activated through intensely bi-directional emotional interactions with others, within critical periods. Neonatal research also confirms that even genetic endowment is modified or inhibited by the specific emotional climate of the family environment into which each baby is born. Although the prevention of autism still lies in the future, this book offers hope of alleviating distress through psychodynamic therapeutic work with the family to enhance intersubjective communication and foster the growth potential of the infant. This book brings hope where despair has prevailed. It offers the prospect of early detection of prodromal signs of autism and the possibility of effective therapeutic mitigation of the parents' unbearable predicament of perpetually failing to engage a seemingly unresponsive infant.' - Professor Joan Raphael-Leff, from the Foreword 'This is a very interesting book which will be of value to health professionals, early years' practitioners and other professionals working with young children whose development is a cause for concern.'- Mary Mountstephen, SEN Magazine

• ContentsIntroduction: expectations and experiences of parents with a pre-autistic baby by Joan Raphael-LeffPART I History of early signs and interventions Chapter 1 The prodromal phase of autism and outcome of early treatment by Henry MassiePART II Research on early signs Chapter 2 Signs of autism in infancy: sensitivity for rhythms of expression in communication by Colwyn Trevarthen, C. St. Clair and Laurent Danon-BoileauChapter 3 Early signs of autism in the first year of life by Filippo Muratori and Sandra MaestroChapter 4 Early signs related to posture and communication-the child's attitude and the mother's reaction by Laurent Danon-BoileauChapter 5 The PREAUT research: evaluation of a consistent set of tools identifying early communication perturbations which could lead to a developmental disorder of the autistic spectrum by Graciela Cullere-CrespinPART III Approaches of early intervention Chapter 6 From a distance - early intervention as a way to attune and find a channel for communication by Stella AcquaroneChapter 7 Infants at risk - attachment disorders: Diagnosis and treatment by Hanna AlonimChapter 8 Prosody with babies at risk for autism: treatment and research by Marie-Christine LaznikChapter 9 Changing Destinies: The theory and practice of reaching emotionally withdrawn infants by Stella AcquaroneChapter 10 Helping toddlers to communicate: infant observation as an early intervention by Maria RhodePART IV Theoretical contributions Chapter 11 Me, You and the Others: on being born emotionally by Stella AcquaroneChapter 12 Developmental and autistic aspects of vocalisation by Maria RhodeSummary and conclusions: the case for training, early screening, early treatment and further research

Stella Acquarone, PhD, is the Director of the Parent-Infant Clinic of the School of Infant Mental Health in London and its branch in the USA. She is a practising adult and child psychotherapist and has worked in the NHS for thirty-one years. She is a member of the British Psychological Society, the Association of Child Psychotherapists, and the London Centre for Psychotherapy. She has pioneered studies in early infant clinical research and development, and lectures internationally on all aspects of infant-parent development and psychotherapy. She has written extensively in professional papers, journals and chapters in books, and has taught infant observational studies and new clinical strategies in working with disturbed children.

'Theories of autism have undergone many changes since it was originally defined by Kanner as an affective disorder caused by deficient parental interaction. Debates about emotional or organic origins determined subsequent plans of management. Each decade has brought its own contribution to understanding the condition. Since then autism has been identified as a developmental impairment due to a variety of causes which may include genetic, neurological, infectious, metabolic, immunologic and environmental factors, all contributing to atypical brain development, which in turn leads to the autistic child's 'deficient experience of intersubjectivity', as Peter Hobson has defined it. Neonatal research reveals that innate capacities for sociability, self-regulation, thought and language are activated through intensely bi-directional emotional interactions with others, within critical periods. Neonatal research also confirms that even genetic endowment is modified or inhibited by the specific emotional climate of the family environment into which each baby is born. Although the prevention of autism still lies in the future, this book offers hope of alleviating distress through psychodynamic therapeutic work with the family to enhance intersubjective communication and foster the growth potential of the infant. This book brings hope where despair has prevailed. It offers the prospect of early detection of prodromal signs of autism and the possibility of effective therapeutic mitigation of the parents' unbearable predicament of perpetually failing to engage a seemingly unresponsive infant.' - Professor Joan Raphael-Leff, from the Foreword 'This is a very interesting book which will be of value to health professionals, early years' practitioners and other professionals working with young children whose development is a cause for concern.'- Mary Mountstephen, SEN Magazine

• ContentsIntroduction: expectations and experiences of parents with a pre-autistic baby by Joan Raphael-LeffPART I History of early signs and interventions Chapter 1 The prodromal phase of autism and outcome of early treatment by Henry MassiePART II Research on early signs Chapter 2 Signs of autism in infancy: sensitivity for rhythms of expression in communication by Colwyn Trevarthen, C. St. Clair and Laurent Danon-BoileauChapter 3 Early signs of autism in the first year of life by Filippo Muratori and Sandra MaestroChapter 4 Early signs related to posture and communication-the child's attitude and the mother's reaction by Laurent Danon-BoileauChapter 5 The PREAUT research: evaluation of a consistent set of tools identifying early communication perturbations which could lead to a developmental disorder of the autistic spectrum by Graciela Cullere-CrespinPART III Approaches of early intervention Chapter 6 From a distance - early intervention as a way to attune and find a channel for communication by Stella AcquaroneChapter 7 Infants at risk - attachment disorders: Diagnosis and treatment by Hanna AlonimChapter 8 Prosody with babies at risk for autism: treatment and research by Marie-Christine LaznikChapter 9 Changing Destinies: The theory and practice of reaching emotionally withdrawn infants by Stella AcquaroneChapter 10 Helping toddlers to communicate: infant observation as an early intervention by Maria RhodePART IV Theoretical contributions Chapter 11 Me, You and the Others: on being born emotionally by Stella AcquaroneChapter 12 Developmental and autistic aspects of vocalisation by Maria RhodeSummary and conclusions: the case for training, early screening, early treatment and further research