Children with Pervasive Developmental Disabilities (PDD) such as Asperger syndrome frequently engage in unusual behaviors, including favored rituals they repeat over and over. Accommodating the children with flexibility and tolerance is usually the best practice when the behaviors are safe, but inappropriate sexual touching requires an entirely different approach.

Craig Latham, Ph.D., a forensic and child psychologist, has written this practical, how-to booklet to help mental health professionals understand, assess, and treat problematic sexual behavior in children with pervasive developmental disorders. The booklet starts with an overview of the clinical features of children and teens described by the various PDD categories and then introduce a developmental framework to help parents and clinicians understand the function and meaning of a child’s or teen’s behavior. The booklet includes strategies to assess the complex risk presented by these kids and offers specific suggestions to manage this risk, offer effective treatment, and build a safer environment for each child.