Citation

Sutton LR, Hughes TL, Huang A, Lehman C, Paserba D, Talkington V, Taormina R, Walters JB, Fenclau E, Marshall S. Focus Autism Other Dev. Disabl. 2013; 28(3): 175-183.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Hammill Institute on Disabilities, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1088357612462060

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Using the criteria established by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the assessment procedures for establishing an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a previously undiagnosed adjudicated group is detailed. We examined 37 male adolescents adjudicated delinquent for sexual offenses who were sentenced to treatment. Ultimately, 22 (60%) were found to meet the diagnostic criteria for an ASD. All had intelligence quotients in the average range. For the offenders with ASD, we recommend modifying traditional treatment protocols (i.e., relying on individual and group talk therapy) to match their learning styles (e.g., visual learning, modeling with practice, and feedback) and restricting contact with neurotypical sexual offenders to improve therapeutic outcomes. Deterrent programming aimed at bridging the gap between social deficits, Theory of Mind deficits, and sexual knowledge acquisition is discussed.

Language: en