Gluten-free, casein-free diet may help some children with autism

Gluten-free, casein-free diet may help some children with autism: A gluten-free, casein-free diet may lead to improvements in behavior and physiological symptoms in some children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to researchers at Penn State. The research is the first to use survey data from parents to document the effectiveness of a gluten-free, casein-free diet on children with ASD.

Download a free PDF version of the parent manual. Autism Center - Family Education

National Autism Center - Family Education: Everywhere they turn, parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders are bombarded with treatment choices—all of which claim to be effective. This manual is designed to support parents as they make decisions about their child’s treatment.

It discusses the complexity of diagnostic evaluations for children on the autism spectrum, identifies and describes effective treatments, and outlines the importance of professional judgment and using data to guide treatment decisions. Other topics include the role of family preferences and values in the decision-making process, and how best to determine if a professional or organization has the capacity to provide evidence-based practice for a child with autism.

Download a free PDF version of the parent manual.

Study compares traits of autism, schizophrenia

Study compares traits of autism, schizophrenia: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia are distinct disorders with unique characteristics, but they share similarities in social dysfunction. For many years, this similarity resulted in confusion in diagnosis. Many young people with ASD were thought to have a childhood version of schizophrenia, said Dr. Noah Sasson, assistant professor in the UT Dallas School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences.
Sasson points out that clear differences exist between people diagnosed with schizophrenia and ASD. Symptoms of ASD can be seen from very early in life, while the onset of schizophrenia typically occurs in young adulthood. And individuals who have schizophrenia often experience hallucinations and delusional thoughts, which are far less common in individuals with ASD.

Parental Training Plus Meds Most Effective for Autism | Psych Central News

Parental Training Plus Meds Most Effective for Autism Psych Central News: In the study, Yale investigators and their colleagues discover that parental training, in addition to medications, provides an improved approach for children with behavioral problems.

Training parents is good medicine for children with autism behavior problems

Training parents is good medicine for children with autism behavior problems: Children with autism spectrum disorders who also have serious behavioral problems responded better to medication combined with training for their parents than to treatment with medication alone, Yale researchers and their colleagues report in the February issue of Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

Toddlers with autism show improved social skills following targeted intervention, finds NIH-supported study, December 8, 2010 News Release - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Toddlers with autism show improved social skills following targeted intervention, finds NIH-supported study, December 8, 2010 News Release - National Institutes of Health (NIH): Targeting the core social deficits of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/autism-spectrum-disorders-pervasive-developmental-disorders/index.shtml) in early intervention programs yielded sustained improvements in social and communication skills even in very young children who have ASD, according to a study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health. The study was published online Dec. 8, 2010, in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.

3D technology autism Orlando: 3D technology "Letters alive" helps autistic children at Audubon Park Elementary in Orlando - Orlando Sentinel

3D technology autism Orlando: 3D technology "Letters alive" helps autistic children at Audubon Park Elementary in Orlando - Orlando Sentinel: A menagerie of virtual 3-D animals that swim, eat bugs and fly are building crucial reading skills in autistic children at Audubon Park Elementary in Orlando.
Four-year-old Christopher Gómez lined up a set of specialized word and animal cards, including one with the letter 'I' and a picture of an iguana under a camera to compose the sentence, "The iguana can eat."