Children and adolescents with Asperger Syndrome are intellectually capable, rigid and often obsessive, adhere to stereotypic routines, demonstrate difficulties with pragmatic language and characteristically lack social skills. While the extent of these behaviors may wax and wane and vary by individual, they are in stark contrast with the high level of intellectual function seen in children and adolescents with this disorder. This primer will examine: the features of Asperger Syndrome, the theories which help explain the nature of the disorder, its comorbidity with other disorders, and the strategies that can impact positively on social skill development. The role that significant others in the environment(parents, teachers, clinicians and trained peers) can play in implementing these social skill strategies is also an area of focus.

Asperger Syndrome --- autism --- autism spectrum disorders --- social skills --- theory of mind --- executive function --- comorbidity --- attention deficit disorder --- oppositional defiance disorder --- generalization of training.

Recurrent pediatric headaches are increasingly understood to be a function of both respondent and operant processes. In particular, the environment is thought to elicit internal autonomic instability and to evoke external maladaptive pain behavior. While medical interventions often provide an appropriate first line treatment, behavioral interventions can provide an important adjunct to medical intervention and in some cases provide valuable alternative sources of relief. This article reviews the prevalence, types, and functional impairments associated with recurrent pediatric headaches and the behavioral concepts that help explain their etiology. The article also reviews the substantial empirical research that supports the efficacy of behavioral interventions. These include teachingchildren to control autonomic reactivity through relaxation or biofeedback and then arranging for an environment that reinforces use of these tools. The article concludes with a discussion of future directions for research in biofeedback, including the application of behavioral concepts and interventions to other chronic health relatedproblems in children.

headaches --- biofeedback --- migraine --- pediatric --- behavioral interventions.

TIME magazine featured a couple treatments for autism in its May 7, 2006 issue. One article in particular "Tale of Two Schools" by Claudia Wallis was especially critical of behavioral treatment. Many behavioral treatment professionals in the autism community were unhappy with the piece, and the Lovaas Institute, as well as others, decided to be proactive by responding quickly with a letter to the editor. The editor later wrote us to say he felt other letters made a"better, more compelling case" for ABA and so ours was not used. Below is the shortened version of the letter the Lovaas Institute sent to TIME to meet the criteria of 120 words or less set by theeditors. Another version follows which is also relevant to other current public critiques.-- Dr. O. Ivar Lovaas

Reply --- early behavioral intervention --- Discrete trial Training.