Autism vs. pervasive developmental disorder - The Clinical Advisor

Autism vs. pervasive developmental disorder - The Clinical Advisor: "Is there a way to eliminate the confusion between autism and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS)? It is often more difficult to obtain services for children in inner-city settings and to get parents involved in treatment with a diagnosis of PDD-NOS"

Autistic patients’ brains have less communication between regions, study finds | The Salt Lake Tribune

Autistic patients’ brains have less communication between regions, study finds The Salt Lake Tribune: "There is no definitive diagnostic test for autism. Instead, doctors ask questions and observe children to see if they have difficulty communicating and interacting with others.
Those imprecise measures can make the neurological disorder hard to identify, delaying the diagnosis.
Hoping to speed detection, and thus treatment, and distinguish between types of autism, Utah researchers have been scanning the brains of autistic boys and men and comparing them with those without the disorder."

Dogs may lower stress in children with autism | abc7.com

Dogs may lower stress in children with autism abc7.com: "A small new study has found that specially-trained service dogs may reduce stress in children with autism.
Researchers at the University of Montreal said the children in their study showed a decrease in levels of the stress hormone, cortisol.
Previous studies have shown that dogs can help autistic children in social situations and improve their daily routine.
However, this is the first time that dogs have been shown to have a physiological effect."

Autism treatment: FDA issues warning on chelation drugs - latimes.com

Autism treatment: FDA issues warning on chelation drugs - latimes.com: "Products called chelators that are sold over the counter as treatments for autism, heart disease and other conditions are dangerous and illegal, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned in a crackdown announced Thursday.

The chemicals, which help remove metals from the body, are potent drugs that carry serious risks, including kidney damage, dehydration and even death, said FDA Medical Officer Dr. Charles Lee. 'Chelation can be dangerous and can cause serious harm,' Lee said."

Jaundice in newborns may be linked to autism - CTV News

Jaundice in newborns may be linked to autism - CTV News: "The study, which appears in the journal Pediatrics, looked at more than 700,000 children in Denmark.
It found that babies who developed jaundice were 67 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with autism during early childhood.
The study authors say the study only linked jaundice and autism; it didn't show that jaundice caused autism. They suggest there could be a number of factors that predispose babies to both the development of jaundice and autism."

Language delays found in siblings of children with autism

Language delays found in siblings of children with autism: "Siblings of children with autism have more frequent language delays and other subtle characteristics of the disorder than previously understood. Girls also may be mildly affected more often than recognized in the past."