HealthForumOnline (HFO), a nationally-approved provider continuing education (CE) for mental health professionals, nurses and allied healthcare workers, announces updates to their online course, Effective Therapy Techniques for Persons Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Their Families. The number of persons diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disorders (IDD) is steadily increasing, largely due to the rising notoriety of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). There are many maladaptive behaviors associated with IDDs and ASDs that are routinely treated with evidence-based behavior management techniques. Additionally, families of these persons likely benefit from Family Therapy methods. This online CE course provides practitioners an understanding of how these 2 modalities, along with psychoeducation, can prove beneficial within this population. All of HFOs over 80 online CE courses are fast, convenient and especially cost-effective as health professionals have free ongoing access to course updates beyond completion of the CE activity.
Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) November 27, 2012
After reviewing diagnostic patterns in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently estimated that 1 in 88 U.S. children (11.3 per 1,000) have an Autism Spectrum Disorder. This is a 23% increase since the 2009 report and a 78% increase since the 2007 report (1). The CDCs most recent prevalence estimates have triggered an ongoing debate concerning the causes for this apparent increase in prevalence and whether it is due to an actual rise in prevalence or to other factors such as changes in diagnostic criteria, increased ASD awareness on the part of healthcare providers and consumers (2-3), and/or improved diagnostic methods which have led to a gradual drop in age at diagnosis (4).
Regardless of the underlying cause of rising rates of ASD, healthcare professionals will find themselves called upon to provide clinical services (e.g., diagnosis, assessment, treatment) to these patients and their families at growing rates. Moreover, in light of the clinical and empirical focus on this particular spectrum of disorders, it is imperative that mental health professionals and allied healthcare providers stay abreast of the current and continuously changing research in the field such as the evidence-based behavior management techniques that are applicable to many of the maladaptive behaviors frequently associated with ASDs, as well as the family therapy methods that have been shown to be beneficial for the families of persons diagnosed with ASD.
Toward that end, this online CE course for mental health professionals and allied healthcare providers who work in any capacity with patients diagnosed with an ASD, or with their families, illustrates how these treatment modalities, especially when paired with parent and patient education, can be efficacious for these patients and their families. A secondary goal is to make health professionals mindful of other possible aspects of some of the ASDs, characteristics that extend beyond standard diagnostic criteria and are not included in any symptomatic cluster, some of which may actually be viewed in a positive, adaptive light rather than through a maladaptive, diagnostic lens. Specifically, a review of the basic terminology and relevant diagnostic categories will be followed by an examination of behavior management techniques and a summary of therapeutic and educational approaches for patients diagnosed with ASD and their families.
HealthForumOnline understands that busy health professionals need to have fast, convenient and cost-effective resources for state-of the-science education. Customers are notified when their purchased CE course has been updated and enables review these updates for free online even after completion of the CE activity. In this way, health professionals make a true investment in their continuing education each time they purchase one of our online CE courses.
HealthForumOnlines online CE resource library has 19 categories of topics related to health psychology and behavioral medicine (i.e., ethics, cancer adaptation, womens health, cultural diversity, eating disorders, reproduction/sexuality, aging/gerontology, pediatric behavioral medicine, assessment, chemical dependency, chronic/acute illness, clinical intervention, group therapy, infectious disease, long-term care, neuropsychology, pain management, spirituality, LGBT issues). Psychologists, social workers, counselors, nurses and other allied health professionals can now chose from over 80 courses available online or as downloadable, transportable PDFs. Health professionals can log on and complete CE courses at their own pace, on their own schedule, anywhere they have Internet access even generate their own CE certificate.
For more information on this course or a complete listing of titles in our online CE resource library, visit HealthForumOnline.com.
1.Centers for Disease Control (2012). Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 14 Sites, United States, 2008. MMWR, 61(SS03), 1-19.
2.National Institute of Mental Health (2012). A Parents Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorders. Retrieved May 16, 2012 from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/a-parents-guide-to-autism-spectrum-disorder/complete-index.shtml.
Excerpt from:
Autism Treatment Course Updated at HealthForumOnline: A Continuing Education (CE) Provider for Mental Health ...