show-paren-mode or similar to highlight multi-character parentheses

Question

In latex, "parentheses" such as \(\), $$ and \[\] are constantly used. Is there a way to customize show-paren-mode or is there some other mode to highlight these multi-character parentheses in latex-mode as well as the traditional ones, ()[]{}?

Taking this to the next level, is there a way to highlight beginning and end of latex environments? As in the example below (item is just an example)

\begin{item}  % <- should be hightlighted together when point is inside
OTHER TEXT
\end{item}    % <- should be hightlighted together 

Answer 1

I just found about the Simple Minded Indentation Engine in Emacs which uses show-paren to highlight multi-character parenthesis like \( \) (See smie-closer-alist).