Hospital infection in pregnancy tied to higher risk of autism - Medical News Today

Hospital infection in pregnancy tied to higher risk of autism - Medical News Today: A new study finds that hospital-diagnosed bacterial infections in pregnancy are associated with a higher risk of autism spectrum disorders.

M-CHATTM Diana L. Robins, Ph.D.

M-CHATTM Diana L. Robins, Ph.D.: M-CHATTM

Diana L. Robins, Ph.D.

New Autism Checklist More Accurate, Says NIH | WebProNews

New Autism Checklist More Accurate, Says NIH | WebProNews: When it comes to autism, diagnostic speed is key. Treatments for the condition rely on early intervention therapies and the sooner in the life of a child with autism they begin, the better.

Revised autism screening tool offers more precise assessment

Revised autism screening tool offers more precise assessment: An updated screening tool that physicians administer to parents to help determine if a very young child has autism has been shown to be much more accurate than earlier versions at identifying children who could benefit from further evaluation, according to researchers supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy Not Linked to Autism – WebMD

Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy Not Linked to Autism – WebMD: Despite some concerns to the contrary, children whose moms used antidepressants during pregnancy do not appear to be at increased risk of autism, a large new Danish study suggests.

The results, published Dec. 19 in the New England Journal of Medicine, offer some reassurance, experts said.

Oxytocin nasal spray may improve brain activity in autistic children | Fox News

Oxytocin nasal spray may improve brain activity in autistic children | Fox News: In a study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, children who received a single dose of an oxytocin-based nasal spray experienced enhanced activity in regions of the brain regulating social behavior.

Genes and air pollution combine to increase autism risk - Medical News Today

Genes and air pollution combine to increase autism risk - Medical News Today: Drawing on results of previous studies that have shown associations between air pollution and autism, and between autism and the MET gene, the researchers say their new study reveals that the combination of these factors increases the risk of autism.

Oxytocin And Autism: How The ‘Love Hormone’ Temporarily Improves Brain Function In Children

Oxytocin And Autism: How The ‘Love Hormone’ Temporarily Improves Brain Function In Children: A single dose of oxytocin – commonly known as the" love hormone" – delivered via nasal spray, has improved brain function among children with autism who display deficits in processing social information, according to a new Yale University study.

Bacterium can reverse autism-like behaviour in mice : Nature News & Comment

Bacterium can reverse autism-like behaviour in mice : Nature News & Comment: Doses of a human gut microbe helped to reverse behavioural problems in mice with autism-like symptoms, researchers report today in Cell1. The treatment also reduced gastrointestinal problems in the animals that were similar to those that often accompany autism in humans.

Bacterium can reverse autism-like behaviour in mice : Nature News & Comment

Bacterium can reverse autism-like behaviour in mice : Nature News & Comment: Doses of a human gut microbe helped to reverse behavioural problems in mice with autism-like symptoms, researchers report today in Cell1. The treatment also reduced gastrointestinal problems in the animals that were similar to those that often accompany autism in humans.

Probiotics treat autism-like symptoms in mice | Futurity

Probiotics treat autism-like symptoms in mice | Futurity: Mice with symptoms similar to autism improved after they were treated with probiotic therapy.

The results, reported in the journal Cell, offer the first evidence that changes in gut bacteria can influence autism-like behaviors in mice.

Single spray of oxytocin improves brain function in children with autism, study suggests

Single spray of oxytocin improves brain function in children with autism, study suggests: A single dose of the hormone oxytocin, delivered via nasal spray, has been shown to enhance brain activity while processing social information in children with autism spectrum disorders, Yale School of Medicine researchers report in a new study published in the Dec. 2 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Can Synesthesia in Autism Lead to Savantism? | MIND Guest Blog, Scientific American Blog Network

Can Synesthesia in Autism Lead to Savantism? | MIND Guest Blog, Scientific American Blog Network: Daniel Tammet has memorized Pi to the 22,514th digit. He speaks ten different languages, including one of his own invention, and he can multiply enormous sums in his head within a matter of seconds. However, he is unable to hold down a standard 9-to-5 job, in part due to his obsessive adherence to ritual, down to the precise times he has his tea every day

Alternative Autism Therapy Focuses On Stimulus Response - Health News - redOrbit

Alternative Autism Therapy Focuses On Stimulus Response - Health News - redOrbit: Our senses work together to paint a picture of the world around us. The way we respond to stimuli outside (a sight or a smell, for instance) depends on how well our senses work together and how the brain processes this ‘integrated’ signal.

However, a simple activity such as smelling a flower can turn into a nightmare when the signals don’t integrate and the brain is not able to understand these garbled signals.

P.L.A.Y. Project Research and Evidence

P.L.A.Y. Project Research and Evidence: The P.L.A.Y. Project is excited to announce that our 3-year NIMH-funded randomized, controlled trial has yielded positive and statistically significant results! For more information about this study, please see the grant summary below. We are in the process of publishing the results and will conduct a formal press release upon publication. To hear Dr. Solomon discuss the details of this study, please listen to his webinar

New Treatment Capitalizes on Autism’s Unique Characteristics | Psych Central News

New Treatment Capitalizes on Autism’s Unique Characteristics | Psych Central News: The methods are tied to learning to self-regulate the autonomic nervous system —including the fight or flight mechanism — that, for many people with autism, is an engine idling on high.

Cognitive Therapy Helps Parents after Child Autism Diagnosis | Psych Central News

Cognitive Therapy Helps Parents after Child Autism Diagnosis | Psych Central News: A new study suggests a form of cognitive therapy may help reduce parental stress and depressive symptoms immediately after their child is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

The technique is known as problem-solving education (PSE) and has been shown to help mothers of children with autism.

Video could transform how schools serve teens with autism | MSUToday | Michigan State University

Video could transform how schools serve teens with autism | MSUToday | Michigan State University: According to the researchers, the students demonstrated a rapid increase in the level of complex social behaviors each time video-based group instruction was used. Students sustained those social behaviors at high levels, even when the videos were used less often.

The students’ parents also completed anonymous surveys and indicated high levels of satisfaction. One reported their child started asking family members to play games together, a skill the teen had never before displayed at home.

The 5 Scariest Autism 'Treatments' - Forbes

The 5 Scariest Autism 'Treatments' - Forbes: Autism invites its share of quacks. In fact, it might have more quacks in its vicinity than a duck pond. After almost a decade of watching “cures” and “treatments” come and go … or stay and stay and stay, bafflingly … I’ve unconsciously created a list in my head, a la High Fidelity, of the Top 5 Scariest Autism Treatments Ever. And I don’t even mean that tongue-in-cheek for Halloween. I mean, these are dangerous in the “can kill you or cause permanent harm” sense. Yet, they remain in use in some circles and flogged by certain organizations who claim a commitment to curing or ‘recovering’ children from autism. So, from my head to yours:

Theatre could help autistic youth improve social deficits

Theatre could help autistic youth improve social deficits: A novel autism intervention program is using theatre to teach reciprocal communication skills to improve social deficits in adolescents with the disorder, a new study has revealed.

The newly released study assessed the effectiveness of a two-week theatre camp on children with autism spectrum disorder and found significant improvements were made in social perception, social cognition and home living skills by the end of the camp.

Web-based autism intervention tool shows promise

Web-based autism intervention tool shows promise: A new web-based intervention tool for challenging behaviors has been shown to be effective as far as its function-based intervention components are concerned, a team from CARD (Center for Autism and Related Disorders) reported in the journal Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders1.

Called the "BIP Builder", it is one of the components of an online autism solution known as Skills® (BIP stands for Behavioral Intervention Plan).

link between pregnancy weight gain and autism | ksl.com

U of U researchers find link between pregnancy weight gain and autism | ksl.com: According to a January 2013 article from The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, Utah vital records data show 51 percent of Utah women had excessive weight gain during pregnancy and 1 in 3 were overweight before becoming pregnant.

“The risk of autism spectrum disorder associated with a modest yet consistent increase in pregnancy weight gain suggests that pregnancy weight gain may serve as an important marker for autism’s underlying gestational etiology,” Bilder said.

Discovery at UNC points to possible environmental cause of autism | Science/Technology | NewsObserver.com

Discovery at UNC points to possible environmental cause of autism | Science/Technology | NewsObserver.com: Shih also said the study could inspire ideas for autism treatments: “If we know that topoisomerase is not functioning optimally, you can imagine that a compound or drug that compensates for that change or restores the function of the topoisomerase could have a positive impact on those individuals whose autism is tied to that.”

Noncontingent Reinforcement - Evidence Based Intervention Network

Noncontingent Reinforcement - Evidence Based Intervention Network: Noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) is a powerful method to reduce problematic behavior. NCR involves giving the student access to a reinforcer frequently enough that they are no longer motivated to exhibit disruptive behavior to obtain that same reinforcer. A classic example of NCR is a teacher placing a child on his or her lap during group instruction such that the child has no motivation to seek the teacher’s attention while the teacher is conducting story time with the class. There have been many empirical demonstrations of the effectiveness of the NCR interventions with a comprehensive demonstration of the evidence base by Carr, Severtson, and Lepper in 2008.

An Evaluation of the High-Probability Instruction Sequence with and Without Programmed Reinforcement for Compliance with High-Probability Instructions

An Evaluation of the High-Probability Instruction Sequence with and Without Programmed Reinforcement for Compliance with High-Probability Instructions: We assessed the effects of reinforcement and no reinforcement for compliance to high-probability (high-p) instructions on compliance to low-probability (low-p) instructions using a reversal design. For both participants, compliance with the low-p instruction increased only when compliance with high-p instructions was followed by reinforcement. These results suggest that providing reinforcement for high-p instructions may result in increased compliance to low-p instructions.

autism strategies classroom chatboard message board IEP information chat room teach teaching information class students autistic support children - communication strategies

autism strategies classroom chatboard message board IEP information chat room teach teaching information class students autistic support children - communication strategies: Linguistic Contingent Responses take on two different forms: linguistic contingent responses to the child's communicative act and linguistic contingent responses to the child's focus of attention. To provide linguistic contingent responses to the child's communicative act, the adult must add information the child's communication attempts by expanding the semantic and syntactic information.

autism strategies classroom chatboard message board IEP information chat room teach teaching information class students autistic support children - communication strategies

autism strategies classroom chatboard message board IEP information chat room teach teaching information class students autistic support children - communication strategies: These responses typically add little linguistic information beyond acknowledging the child's behavior. However, non-linguistic contingent responses can influence communication by enhancing joint attention focus, enhancing the child's knowledge of cause and effect, and enhancing the child's exploration of his/her environment. All factors that have been recognized as positively influencing future communicative acts.

autism strategies classroom chatboard message board IEP information chat room teach teaching information class students autistic support children - communication strategies

autism strategies classroom chatboard message board IEP information chat room teach teaching information class students autistic support children - communication strategies: To sustain communication between the child and the adults in his/her environment, provide structured play activities in which your child must use symbolic forms of communication to interact in order to continue playing with a favorite toy or game. Research on long term memory suggests that meaningful rehearsal of a task is one of the factors that positively influence long term memory (Ormrod, 1990).

autism strategies classroom chatboard message board IEP information chat room teach teaching information class students autistic support children - communication strategies

autism strategies classroom chatboard message board IEP information chat room teach teaching information class students autistic support children - communication strategies: Children with Autism, in particular, tend to be visual learners. They seem to decipher visual instructions more efficiently than verbal commands. Verbal messages, such as spoken words, are difficult for children with autism to process because they disappear fast. Non-transient messages, on the other hand, provide a clear and stable message that the child can refer to with or without the assistance of the adult and without the need to understand the meaning of the word.

autism strategies classroom chatboard message board IEP information chat room teach teaching information class students autistic support children - communication strategies

autism strategies classroom chatboard message board IEP information chat room teach teaching information class students autistic support children - communication strategies: According to Piaget, a child's sense of knowing comes from schemes or mental structures. Initially, schemes are simple, however, over time, they build upon each other and become more complex. In order for schemes to mean anything to the child, they must be balanced. For this to occur, the child must learn to assimilate (be given) and accommodate (know how to use) any stimuli they are presented. Consistent structured routines will provide the child with the exposure and practice in the area of accommodation (knowing how to use the item).

autism strategies classroom chatboard message board IEP information chat room teach teaching information class students autistic support children - communication strategies

autism strategies classroom chatboard message board IEP information chat room teach teaching information class students autistic support children - communication strategies: A typical interrupted behavior chain (IBC) strategy uses naturally occurring routines as contexts for communication instruction related to requests for assistance by children who are minimally motivated to communicate

autism strategies classroom chatboard message board IEP information chat room teach teaching information class students autistic support children - communication strategies

autism strategies classroom chatboard message board IEP information chat room teach teaching information class students autistic support children - communication strategies: Provide the child with more appropriate ways to express himself/herself. Challenging or inappropriate behaviors are often attempts for children to communicate a message to others. Through the use of functional communication training, challenging behaviors are viewed as communicative acts that are functionally equivalent to alternative and more conventional methods

autism strategies classroom chatboard message board IEP information chat room teach teaching information class students autistic support children - communication strategies

autism strategies classroom chatboard message board IEP information chat room teach teaching information class students autistic support children - communication strategies: Place items in a spot where the child can see the items, but cannot obtain the item, without the assistance from the adult. This can be done in a number of ways. First, highly motivating items can be placed behind the adult, but in clear view. Since the child cannot go through the adult, he or she must communicate with the adult to receive the item. Second, items can be placed inside a cabinent, container or a closet and picture icons or photographs can be placed on the outside of the closet or cabinet door. Once again, providing the need for adult assistance to obtain the item.

autism strategies classroom chatboard message board IEP information chat room teach teaching information class students autistic support children - communication strategies

autism strategies classroom chatboard message board IEP information chat room teach teaching information class students autistic support children - communication strategies: Time Delay is a natural-environment intervention designed to increase the number of opportunities for communication and to establish environmental stimuli rather than adult verbalization, as cues for communication. Time delay is a strategy to use with individuals who have been verbally cued to communicate and have become dependent on the adult prompts, or individuals who need some encouragement to be more spontateous and independent

autism strategies classroom chatboard message board IEP information chat room teach teaching information class students autistic support children - communication strategies

autism strategies classroom chatboard message board IEP information chat room teach teaching information class students autistic support children - communication strategies: Incidental teaching refers to the the "interaction between an adult and a single child, which is used by the adult to transmit information or give the child practice in developing a skill." All interactions are child-initiated. However, in order to produce the child's interactions, the adult arranges the environment so that the child must engage the adult's assistance in order to get a desired item

autism strategies classroom chatboard message board IEP information chat room teach teaching information class students autistic support children - communication strategies

autism strategies classroom chatboard message board IEP information chat room teach teaching information class students autistic support children - communication strategies: The Mand-Model technique will encourage communicative competence because it is designed for children who are generally not initiators of communicative exchanges. This approach is likely to be successful with children when they will be communicating to recieve highly preferred items. For example, food, drink, and toys are more likely to ensure a high level of motivation

The Severity of Autism Is Associated with Toxic Metal Body Burden and Red Blood Cell Glutathione Levels

The Severity of Autism Is Associated with Toxic Metal Body Burden and Red Blood Cell Glutathione Levels: This study investigated the relationship of children's autism symptoms with their toxic metal body burden and red blood cell (RBC) glutathione levels. In children ages 3–8 years, the severity of autism was assessed using four tools: ADOS, PDD-BI, ATEC, and SAS. Toxic metal body burden was assessed by measuring urinary excretion of toxic metals, both before and after oral dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA). Multiple positive correlations were found between the severity of autism and the urinary excretion of toxic metals. Variations in the severity of autism measurements could be explained, in part, by regression analyses of urinary excretion of toxic metals before and after DMSA and the level of RBC glutathione (adjusted of 0.22–0.45, in all cases). This study demonstrates a significant positive association between the severity of autism and the relative body burden of toxic metals.

A biomarker of mercury body-burden correlated with diagnostic domain specific clinical symptoms of autism spectrum disorder - Springer

A biomarker of mercury body-burden correlated with diagnostic domain specific clinical symptoms of autism spectrum disorder - Springer: The study purpose was to compare the quantitative results from tests for urinary porphyrins, where some of these porphyrins are known biomarkers of heavy metal toxicity, to the independent assessments from a recognized quantitative measurement, the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC), of specific domains of autistic disorders symptoms (Speech/Language, Sociability, Sensory/Cognitive Awareness, and Health/Physical/Behavior) in a group of children having a clinical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Genetic Condition May Be Mistaken for Autism in Some Kids: Report – WebMD

Genetic Condition May Be Mistaken for Autism in Some Kids: Report – WebMD: Some children diagnosed with autism may actually have a genetic deletion disorder instead, according to a new study.

These children are often misdiagnosed because the social impairments associated with their developmental delay can resemble features of autism, said the researchers at the University of California, Davis, MIND Institute.

Rates of autism in children with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome have been reported at between 20 percent and 50 percent. But this study found that none of the 29 children with the syndrome "met strict diagnostic criteria" for autism.

Enrichment therapy effective among children with autism, UCI study finds | UCIrvine News

Enrichment therapy effective among children with autism, UCI study finds | UCIrvine News: Children with autism showed significant improvement after six months of simple sensory exercises at home using everyday items such as scents, spoons and sponges, according to UC Irvine neurobiologists.

They found that a treatment known as environmental enrichment led to notable gains in male subjects between the ages of 3 and 12. Results appear online in Behavioral Neuroscience.

Study co-authors Cynthia Woo and Michael Leon randomly assigned 28 boys to one of two groups, balanced for age and autism severity. For half a year, all subjects participated in standard autism therapies, but those in one group also had daily sensory enrichment exercises.

Clinical research: Autism, bipolar disorder may often overlap — SFARI.org - Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative

Clinical research: Autism, bipolar disorder may often overlap — SFARI.org - Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative: As much as 30 percent of children diagnosed with bipolar disorder may also have autism, suggests a study published in the June issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry1.

Bipolar disorder affects about 1 percent of children and is characterized by severe mood swings between mania and depression. Some of the symptoms, such as irritability and aggression, are also common in autism.

Studies Link Infertility Treatments to Autism - TIME

Studies Link Infertility Treatments to Autism - TIME: Every parent of a child with autism wonders what might have caused the disorder. Does it secretly run in the family? Was there a toxic exposure during pregnancy? An infection in early infancy? Was the mother or father too old?

Amy Sawelson Landes of Tarzana, Calif., has asked herself all of these questions, plus one more: Could the fact that she had taken an infertility drug to get pregnant have contributed to her son Ted's autism? "It was one of the first things I wondered about," says Landes, who was 37 when Ted was born 18 years ago.

Can a common hormone prevent unborn babies from developing autism? | Fox News

Can a common hormone prevent unborn babies from developing autism? | Fox News: Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), both conditions that are neurodevelopmental in origin, may share some similar molecular vulnerabilities, according to a new rodent study published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

When researchers from Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, Ill., exposed pregnant rats to alcohol, they found their offspring experienced symptoms of social impairment and altered-levels of genes that have been previously linked to autism in humans.

Boston Children’s Hospital testing transplant drug on children with autism - Health & wellness - The Boston Globe

Boston Children’s Hospital testing transplant drug on children with autism - Health & wellness - The Boston Globe: After joining a clinical trial at Boston Children’s Hospital, Katie started to speak in complete sentences for the first time, her 30-second attention span extended into minutes, and she was finally able to retain information from one day to the next, said her mother, Susan Mills.

Autism Risk And Labor Induction: Is There A Link? - Forbes

Autism Risk And Labor Induction: Is There A Link? - Forbes: The headlines linking labor induction and autism risk are splashy–aren’t they always with “autism linked to” stories? My favorite misstatement of the research is in this headline from Bloomberg: “Autism risk for children may be raised when labor induced,” as though the cause-and-effect association is established and inducing labor is The Factor that leads to the risk.

Autism’s Unexpected Link to Cancer Genes - NYTimes.com

Autism’s Unexpected Link to Cancer Genes - NYTimes.com: Ten percent of children with mutations in a gene called PTEN, which cause cancers of the breast, colon, thyroid and other organs, have autism. So do about half of children with gene mutations that can lead to some kinds of brain and kidney cancer and large tumors in several organs, including the brain. That is many times the rate of autism in the general population.

Using Movement to Diagnose and Treat Autism | TIME.com

Using Movement to Diagnose and Treat Autism | TIME.com: By taking advantage of disrupted motor connections in the brains of autistic children, researchers say it may be possible for affected kids to guide their own therapy.



Scientists from Rutgers University and Indiana University have developed a novel and objective way to both diagnose and treat children with autism, by focusing on the unique ways that autistic brains process movement.

What parents of boys of ADHD or autism should know about video games - MD Mama - Boston.com

What parents of boys of ADHD or autism should know about video games - MD Mama - Boston.com: A new study published in the journal Pediatrics found that boys with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) spent more time playing video games and were more likely to get addicted to them than boys with "typical development." It seemed to be most linked to attention problems: boys who had particular trouble paying attention, whether they had ADHD or ASD, were the ones most likely to get addicted.

Autism: 'different developmental brain chemistry'

Autism: 'different developmental brain chemistry': The study, published in JAMA Psychiatry, reveals that gray matter chemical changes that occur between the ages of 3 and 10 years differentiate children with autism spectrum disorder from those with idiopathic (an unknown cause) developmental disorder.

Autism symptoms not explained by impaired attention

Autism symptoms not explained by impaired attention: Now, a new study suggests that two key attentional abilities -- moving attention fluidly and orienting to social information -- can be checked off the list, as neither seems to account for the diversity of symptoms we find in people with autism.

"This is not to say that every aspect of attention is fine in all children with autism -- children with autism very often have attentional disorders as well," explain psychological scientists and lead researchers Jason Fischer and Kami Koldewyn of MIT. "However, our study suggests that attention impairments are not a key component of autism itself."

Brain differences found between Asperger's and autism | Fox News

Brain differences found between Asperger's and autism | Fox News: Children with Asperger's syndrome show patterns of brain connectivity distinct from those of children with autism, according to a new study. The findings suggest the two conditions, which are now in one category in the new psychiatry diagnostic manual, may be biologically different.

Scientists Create New Technology to Diagnose and Treat Autism - Yahoo! News

Scientists Create New Technology to Diagnose and Treat Autism - Yahoo! News: A team of scientists from the Indiana University School of Medicine and Rutgers University have developed a computerized tool that tracks an individual's random movements, according to ScienceDaily. The high-tech software creates 240 images per second and senses systematic signatures unique to the individual being screened. This contrasts with the traditional way of looking for autism, which usually relies on subjective evaluations of how a person interacts socially, any communication deficits, and interests and behavior that appear repetitive and restricted.

Autism linked to brain-attacking antibodies Page 1 of 2 | UTSanDiego.com

Autism linked to brain-attacking antibodies Page 1 of 2 | UTSanDiego.com: About 23 percent of autism cases appear to be caused by certain antibodies from pregnant mothers that interfere with fetal brain development, according to two studies from UC Davis researchers.

The findings, if corroborated, mean that a large segment of autism spectrum disorder cases could be identified with near-perfect accuracy, even before symptoms manifest. But the research doesn't shed light on the great majority of other cases of ASD; in which a variety of factors appear to be involved.

High levels of air pollution during pregnancy linked to increased autism risk - NY Daily News

High levels of air pollution during pregnancy linked to increased autism risk - NY Daily News: Pregnant women who were exposed to high levels of air pollution were twice as likely to have a child with autism as women who lived in low pollution areas, a Harvard University study said on Tuesday.

According to researchers, this is the first large national study to examine links between the prevalence of pollution and the development of the developmental disorder.

Prenatal Exposure to Pollution Raises Risk of Autism in Kids | TIME.com

Prenatal Exposure to Pollution Raises Risk of Autism in Kids | TIME.com: Pollutants in the air are known to affect brain development, but the first national study of in utero exposure and autism rates raises new concerns.


Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) say that early-life exposure to pollution, including diesel particulates, mercury and lead, could contribute to a higher risk of autism disorders.

Autism in children affects not only social abilities, but also a broad range of sensory and motor skills

Autism in children affects not only social abilities, but also a broad range of sensory and motor skills: "This impaired connectivity suggests that autism is not simply a disorder of social and communicative abilities, but also affects a broad range of sensory and motor systems," Müller said.

Disturbances in the development of both the structure and function of the thalamus may play a role in the emergence of social and communicative impairments, which are among the most prominent and distressing symptoms of autism.

Unique Brain Pattern Could Predict Autism in Youngest Children | TIME.com

Unique Brain Pattern Could Predict Autism in Youngest Children | TIME.com: A highly interconnected brain could mean that signals zooming from sensory nerves to other networks become too overwhelming to parse apart and process, which researchers believe is a hallmark of the autistic brain. And in a study published in JAMA Psychiatry, Stanford University researchers report that this pattern of hyperconnectivity in some brain areas could provide a fingerprint for autism that helps doctors to recognize the condition at its earliest stages.

The Right Incentive Can Erase an Autism Deficit: Scientific American

The Right Incentive Can Erase an Autism Deficit: Scientific American: With the right incentive, such as winning a prize, children with autism do fairly well at inferring the thoughts and beliefs of others, according to a study published in the May issue of Developmental Science.

Research has shown that children with autism usually struggle with a widely used test designed to gauge this ability, called theory of mind. The new study suggests that they are able to grasp theory of mind, but don’t have a strong motivation to give the correct answer when taking the classic test.

Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection: In-Vitro Technique Raises Autism Risk

Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection: In-Vitro Technique Raises Autism Risk: Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection, in which a sperm surgically extracted from the testes is injected directly into an egg before being transplanted to the womb, was associated with an increased risk of autism and mental disability in children, compared with standard methods.

Some forms of IVF linked to risk of autism, mental disability | Reuters

Some forms of IVF linked to risk of autism, mental disability | Reuters: Couples who have certain types of fertility treatment have a higher chance of having a child with autism or learning difficulties - although the overall risk is still extremely small, scientists said on Tuesday.

Updates to the APA in DSM-V – What do the changes mean to families living with Autism? Includes information on many kinds of interventions.

Excellent video, worth taking the time to watch.

Eating Healthy Fats During Pregnancy May Reduce Baby's Autism Risk | LiveScience

Eating Healthy Fats During Pregnancy May Reduce Baby's Autism Risk | LiveScience: Women who eat certain types of "healthy fat" during pregnancy may reduce their risk of having a child with autism, a new study suggests.

In the study, women who consumed high levels of linoleic acid — a type of omega-6 fatty acid found in vegetable oils, nuts and seeds — were 34 percent less likely to give birth to a child with autism compared with women who consumed low levels of the nutrient.

Study Debunks Lyme Disease-Autism Link - US News and World Report

Study Debunks Lyme Disease-Autism Link - US News and World Report: Although a prevalence of Lyme disease as high as 20 percent (or even higher) has been reported in children with autism, the new research found no cases of Lyme disease in children when testing recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was done.

Drug shows benefit for children with autism - thenews.com.pk

Drug shows benefit for children with autism - thenews.com.pk: Children on arbaclofen did improve on an overall measure of autism severity when compared to kids taking an inactive placebo, said lead researcher Dr. Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele, an associate professor of psychiatry, pediatrics and pharmacology at Vanderbilt University. He is to present the findings Thursday at the International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR) in Spain.

Autistic disorder and phospholipids: A review

Autistic disorder and phospholipids: A review: Dysregulated phospholipid metabolism has been proposed as an underlying biological component of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autistic disorder (AD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This review provides an overview of fatty acid and phospholipid metabolism and evidence for phospholipid dysregulation with reference to the membrane hypothesis of schizophrenia. While there is evidence that phospholipid metabolism is at least impaired in individuals with AD, it has not been established whether phospholipid metabolism is implicated in causal, mechanistic or epiphenomenological models.

Autism discovery paves way for early blood test and therapeutic options

Autism discovery paves way for early blood test and therapeutic options: The study, led by GGC's Director of Research, Charles Schwartz, PhD, (left) and Staff Scientist, Luigi Boccuto, MD, (right) found that individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) showed significantly decreased metabolism of the amino acid L-tryptophan when compared to both typical controls and individuals with other neurodevelopmental disorders. Cells from individuals with autism metabolized L-tryptophan at a decreased rate whereas cells from individuals without autism did not show this change.

Trinity Study: High-Fat Diet Could Help Autism - Courant.com

Trinity Study: High-Fat Diet Could Help Autism - Courant.com: Masino said the ketogenic diet has been used for decades to treat epilepsy and is known to significantly reduce and, in some cases, eliminate, patients' seizures. More recently, the diet has been studied as a means to treating other neurological disorders, including autism. A 2003 study out of Greece found that 18 of 30 children with autism showed improvement.

Why Kids With Autism May Avoid Eye Contact | LiveScience

Why Kids With Autism May Avoid Eye Contact | LiveScience: Children with autism often have difficulty making eye contact, and now a new study suggests this may be due in part to how their brains process visual information, rather than being purely a social deficit.

'Sensory-Focused' Autism Therapy Shows Early Promise – WebMD

'Sensory-Focused' Autism Therapy Shows Early Promise – WebMD: "What we've done here for the first time is give humans a sensory-enriched environment and found out that a neurological disorder -- autism -- responds favorably. We saw a 600 percent greater likelihood of having a positive clinical outcome in individuals that had enriched environments compared to those receiving the standard care that children have been receiving for autism up to this point," said study author Michael Leon, a professor of neurobiology and behavior at Center for Autism Research and Treatment at the University of California, Irvine.

Nearly one-third of children with autism also have ADHD

Nearly one-third of children with autism also have ADHD: In a study of the co-occurrence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in early school-age children (four to eight years old), researchers at the Kennedy Krieger Institute found that nearly one-third of children with ASD also have clinically significant ADHD symptoms

Brain wave study sheds light on autism among toddlers - latimes.com

Brain wave study sheds light on autism among toddlers - latimes.com: The research, published this week in the online journal PLOS One, suggests that a “social gateway” based in the brain impedes not only early language processing, but a broader spectrum of cognitive development, including the ability to adapt behavior to circumstances, according to Patricia Kuhl, who studies early language and brain development at the University of Washington’s Institute for Brain and Learning Sciences.

Research discovers link between epilepsy and autism

Research discovers link between epilepsy and autism: "The social difficulties in epilepsy have been so far under-diagnosed and research has not uncovered any underlying theory to explain them. This new research links social difficulties to a deficit in somatic markers in the brain, explaining these characteristics in adults with epilepsy."

Dr Wakeford and her colleagues discovered that having increased autistic traits was common to all epilepsy types, however, this was more pronounced for adults with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE).

Start With Strengths

Start with Strengths!
From the E-Newsletter by Kathie Snow

First Do No Harm

First, Do No Harm
Revolutionary Common Sense by Kathie Snow

Treatment

Treatment
"In my early years I was asking the question:   How can I treat or cure or change this person? 
Now I would frame the question in this way: How can I provide a relationship which this person may use for his (or her) own personal growth." Carl Rogers

Researchers successfully treat autism in infants: Playing games that infants prefer can lessen severity of symptoms

Researchers successfully treat autism in infants: Playing games that infants prefer can lessen severity of symptoms: Most infants respond to a game of peek-a-boo with smiles at the very least, and, for those who find the activity particularly entertaining, gales of laughter. For infants with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), however, the game can be distressing rather than pleasant, and they'll do their best to tune out all aspects of it -- and that includes the people playing with them.

MIND Institute, Yale study finds abnormalities in the placentas of children at risk for autism

MIND Institute, Yale study finds abnormalities in the placentas of children at risk for autism: A study by researchers at the UC Davis MIND Institute and the Yale University School of Medicine has found that more than 95 percent of the placentas of infants who are among those at the greatest risk of developing autism contained abnormal cells, called trophoblast inclusions, suggesting that the abnormality may hold promise as a very early marker for autism risk.

The researchers cautioned that the study found an association between trophoblast inclusions and autism risk, rather than a direct correlation with autism itself. The study is published online today in Biological Psychiatry.

New autism link: Women abused as children more likely to have child with the disorder - Health & wellness - The Boston Globe

New autism link: Women abused as children more likely to have child with the disorder - Health & wellness - The Boston Globe: In a study published in JAMA Psychiatry last Wednesday, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health examined medical records from 50,000 women enrolled in the Nurses’ Health Study II and found that those who experienced the most physical, emotional, or sexual abuse as children were 60 percent more likely to have a child with autism

Fatty acids in ADHD: plasma profiles in a placebo-controlled study of Omega 3/6 fatty acids in children and adolescents - Springer

Fatty acids in ADHD: plasma profiles in a placebo-controlled study of Omega 3/6 fatty acids in children and adolescents - Springer: Omega 3/6 supplementation had a clear impact on fatty acid composition of plasma phosphatidyl choline in active versus placebo group, and the fatty acid changes appear to be associated with treatment response. The most pronounced and long-lasting changes for treatment responders compared to non-responders were in the n-6/n-3 ratio.

No evidence yet to support omega-3 fatty acids as a treatment for autism - Williams - 2012 - Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health - Wiley Online Library

No evidence yet to support omega-3 fatty acids as a treatment for autism - Williams - 2012 - Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health - Wiley Online Library: No evidence yet to support omega-3 fatty acids as a treatment for autism

Katrina Williams1,
Katrina Williams1,
Catherine Marraffa2

ScienceDirect.com - Research in Developmental Disabilities - Vitamin D and autism: Clinical review

ScienceDirect.com - Research in Developmental Disabilities - Vitamin D and autism: Clinical review: Conclusion

Vitamin D deficiency – either during pregnancy or early childhood – may be an environmental trigger for ASD in individuals genetically predisposed for the broad phenotype of autism. On the basis of the results of the present review, we argue for the recognition of this possibly important role of vitamin D in ASD, and for urgent research in the field.

Brief Report: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Clinical Trial - Springer

Brief Report: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Clinical Trial - Springer: We sought to determine whether HBOT leads to parental reported behavioral changes and alterations in cytokines in children with ASD. Ten children completed 80 sessions of HBOT and all improved by 2 points on the clinician-rated CGI-I scale (much improved) as well as several parent-completed measures of behavior. The lack of a control group limits the ability to determine if improvements were related to HBOT. Enrolled children did not exhibit abnormal cytokine levels at baseline and no significant changes in mean cytokine levels were observed. Although this study was limited by the small sample size and by the variable nature of cytokines, we found no evidence that HBOT affects cytokine levels or that cytokine levels were associated with behavioral changes.

A Primer of Hyperbaric Therapy for Parents - Talk About Curing Autism (TACA)

A Primer of Hyperbaric Therapy for Parents - Talk About Curing Autism (TACA): We know how Hyperbaric therapy works – it works by reviving the little mitochondria and actually causes mitochondrial biogenesis, so that if you need more mitochondria in your neurons more of them will form. It is interesting to note that the reason the ketogenic diet helps patients with certain types of neurological problems is that ketone bodies help support mitochondrial function. My opinion is that hyperbaric therapy is the most effective way to do this. It is that simple – this is not rocket science, but it is non-invasive brain repair.

BBC News - Grandparents 'may relay autism risk to grandchildren'

BBC News - Grandparents 'may relay autism risk to grandchildren': The risk of developing autism may be passed on through - and not just to - future generations, researchers say.
The international study suggests older fathers are more likely to have grandchildren with autism than their younger counterparts.
The mechanism is unclear but it is thought they may transmit "silent mutations" to their grandchildren.

Hyperbaric oxygen in the treatment of chil... [Diving Hyperb Med. 2012] - PubMed - NCBI

Hyperbaric oxygen in the treatment of chil... [Diving Hyperb Med. 2012] - PubMed - NCBI: CONCLUSIONS:

Children with autism who received 20 sessions of either HBOT or a sham air exposure had significant improvements in overall behaviour but there were no significant differences in improvement between groups. The inconsistent changes on CGI sub-scores between parents and clinicians are difficult to interpret, but no overall clinically significant benefit from HBOT could be shown. Both interventions were safe and well tolerated with minimal side effect from middle ear barotraumas.

Melatonin for Sleep in Children with Autism: A Controlled Trial Examining Dose, Tolerability, and Outcomes - Springer

Melatonin for Sleep in Children with Autism: A Controlled Trial Examining Dose, Tolerability, and Outcomes - Springer: Supplemental melatonin has shown promise in treating sleep onset insomnia in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Twenty-four children, free of psychotropic medications, completed an open-label dose-escalation study to assess dose–response, tolerability, safety, feasibility of collecting actigraphy data, and ability of outcome measures to detect change during a 14-week intervention. Supplemental melatonin improved sleep latency, as measured by actigraphy, in most children at 1 or 3 mg dosages. It was effective in week 1 of treatment, maintained effects over several months, was well tolerated and safe, and showed improvement in sleep, behavior, and parenting stress. Our findings contribute to the growing literature on supplemental melatonin for insomnia in ASD and inform planning for a large randomized trial in this population.

Treatments for mitochondrial dysfunction associated with autism spectrum disorders - Journal of Pediatric Biochemistry - Volume 2, Number 4 / 2012 - IOS Press

Treatments for mitochondrial dysfunction associated with autism spectrum disorders - Journal of Pediatric Biochemistry - Volume 2, Number 4 / 2012 - IOS Press: Mitochondrial disease (MD) and dysfunction are associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and most likely affect a substantial number of children with ASD. The mitochondrion is the powerhouse of the body's cells which supports and is supported by many metabolic systems, so mitochondrial dysfunction can have widespread consequences on cellular metabolism, especially in high energy cells like the brain, gastrointestinal tract and immune system, and especially during critical periods of high energy demand like childhood.

Downregulation of the Expression of Mitochondrial Electron Transport Complex Genes in Autism Brains - Anitha - 2012 - Brain Pathology - Wiley Online Library

Downregulation of the Expression of Mitochondrial Electron Transport Complex Genes in Autism Brains - Anitha - 2012 - Brain Pathology - Wiley Online Library: We report new candidate genes involved in abnormal brain bioenergetics in autism, supporting the hypothesis that mitochondria, critical for neurodevelopment, may play a role in autism.

Calcium and Vitamin D Intake of Boys Who Have Autism

Calcium and Vitamin D Intake of Boys Who Have Autism: Objective. To determine the calcium and vitamin D intake of boys with autism ages 7 to 12 years and to compare these intakes with the dietary reference intake (DRI). Design. This study is a cross-sectional design using data obtained from a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire that assesses daily calcium and vitamin D intake. Subjects. Subjects were recruited through the Autism Society of America. Forty-seven parents or caretakers of eligible subjects were included

ScienceDirect.com - Journal of Medical Hypotheses and Ideas - Gold nanoparticles and lipoic acid as a novel anti-inflammatory treatment for autism, a hypothesis

ScienceDirect.com - Journal of Medical Hypotheses and Ideas - Gold nanoparticles and lipoic acid as a novel anti-inflammatory treatment for autism, a hypothesis: This article reviews evidence about the possible role of gold nanoparticles and lipoic acid (LA) as anti-inflammatory agents. It mentions some evidence about the possible role of oxidative stress. Then, the role of gold nanoparticles and LA for the management of autism is discussed.

According to the above-mentioned evidence, it is hypothesised that gold nanoparticles and LA may reduce neuro-inflammation in autism.

Treatments for mitochondrial dysfunction associated with autism spectrum disorders - Journal of Pediatric Biochemistry - Volume 2, Number 4 / 2012 - IOS Press

Treatments for mitochondrial dysfunction associated with autism spectrum disorders - Journal of Pediatric Biochemistry - Volume 2, Number 4 / 2012 - IOS Press: We discuss supportive measures which aim at preventing further damage from occurring due to malfunctioning mitochondria, treatment with high dose vitamins that can support metabolism in light of dysfunctional mitochondria, dietary changes that can be useful in mitochondrial disease, and secondary organ systems to investigate due to mitochondrial dysfunction. We also discuss several treatments that have been reported to be of benefit in children with ASD which are also treatments that are standard of care for MD. This review provides a guide for appropriate treatments for children with ASD/MD and children with ASD that have mitochondrial dysfunction.

Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration is not a synucleinopathy - Li - 2013 - Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology - Wiley Online Library

Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration is not a synucleinopathy - Li - 2013 - Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology - Wiley Online Library: Mutations in the pantothenate kinase 2 gene (PANK2) are responsible for the most common type of neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA), known as pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN). Historically, NBIA is considered a synucleinopathy with numerous reports of NBIA cases with Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites and some cases reporting additional abnormal tau accumulation. However, clinicopathological correlations in genetically proven PKAN cases are rare

Brief Report: Oxytocin Enhances Paternal Sensitivity to a Child with Autism: A Double-Blind Within-Subject Experiment with Intranasally Administered Oxytocin - Springer##

Brief Report: Oxytocin Enhances Paternal Sensitivity to a Child with Autism: A Double-Blind Within-Subject Experiment with Intranasally Administered Oxytocin - Springer##: Oxytocin seems associated with parenting style, and experimental work showed positive effects of intranasally administered oxytocin on parenting style of fathers. Here, the first double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject experiment with intranasal oxytocin administration to fathers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is presented. Fathers with their typically developing toddler (n = 18), and fathers of toddlers diagnosed with ASD (n = 14), were observed in two play sessions of 15 min each with an intervening period of 1 week. In all fathers oxytocin elevated the quality of paternal sensitive play: fathers stimulated their child in a more optimal way, and they showed less hostility which suggests the positive effects of oxytocin on paternal sensitive play irrespective of clinical status of their child.

Examining Autism Spectrum Disorders by Biomarkers: Example From the Oxytocin and Serotonin Systems

Examining Autism Spectrum Disorders by Biomarkers: Example From the Oxytocin and Serotonin Systems: Results

In humans, OT and 5-HT were negatively correlated with each other (p < .05) and this relationship was most prominent in children less than 11 years old. Paralleling human findings, mice lacking Oxtr showed increased whole-blood 5-HT levels (p = .05), with this effect driven exclusively by mice less than 4 months old (p < .01).

Conclusions

Identifying relationships between identified ASD biomarkers may be a useful approach to connect otherwise disparate findings that span multiple systems in this heterogeneous disorder. Using neurochemical biomarkers to perform parallel studies in animal and human populations within a developmental context is a plausible approach to probe the root causes of ASD and to identify potential interventions.

AAN: Anxiety Drug May Help in Autism

AAN: Anxiety Drug May Help in Autism: The hypertension and anxiety treatment propranolol improved general social functioning in young adults with autism spectrum disorder, a small double-blinded, counterbalanced, placebo-controlled study showed.

Baylor College of Medicine study to assess role of carnitine in autism - Baylor College of Medicine

Baylor College of Medicine study to assess role of carnitine in autism - Baylor College of Medicine: Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine are seeking boys aged 9 months to 30 months who might be showing signs of autism or boys of the same age who have an older brother with the disorder to take part in a study to determine if a supplement called carnitine can prevent a form of autism.

A common X-linked inborn error of carnitine biosynthesis may be a risk factor for nondysmorphic autism

A common X-linked inborn error of carnitine biosynthesis may be a risk factor for nondysmorphic autism: These data suggest that dysregulation of carnitine metabolism may be important in nondysmorphic autism; that abnormalities of carnitine intake, loss, transport, or synthesis may be important in a larger fraction of nondysmorphic autism cases; and that the carnitine pathway may provide a novel target for therapy or prevention of autism.

Celecoxib as adjunctive treatment to risperidone in children with autistic disorder: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial - Springer###

Celecoxib as adjunctive treatment to risperidone in children with autistic disorder: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial - Springer###: Significant time × treatment interaction was observed for Irritability (F (1.658, 63.021) = 13.580, P < 0.001), Lethargy/Social Withdrawal (F (1.948, 74.032) = 16.811, P < 0.001), and Stereotypic Behavior (F(1.742, 66.198) = 12.104, P < 0.001), but not for Hyperactivity/Noncompliance (F (2.564, 97.424) = 1.469, P = 0.232), and Inappropriate Speech subscales (F (1.607, 61.075) = 0.173, P = 0.794). By week 10, patients in the celecoxib group showed significantly greater improvement in the Irritability (P < 0.001), Lethargy/Social Withdrawal (P < 0.001), and Stereotypic Behavior (P < 0.00) but not in Hyperactivity/Noncompliance (P = 0.202) and Inappropriate Speech (P = 0.802) subscales than the placebo group. Complete response was achieved by four (20 %) patients in the placebo group and 11 (55 %) patients in the celecoxib group (χ 2 (1) = 5.227, P = 0.022). Frequency of side effects was similar between the two groups.

Conclusions

Combination of risperidone and celecoxib was superior to risperidone alone in treating irritability, social withdrawal, and stereotypy of children with autism

Celecoxib as adjunctive treatment ... [Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2013] - PubMed - NCBI

Celecoxib as adjunctive treatment ... [Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2013] - PubMed - NCBI: RESULTS:

Significant time × treatment interaction was observed for Irritability (F (1.658, 63.021) = 13.580, P < 0.001), Lethargy/Social Withdrawal (F (1.948, 74.032) = 16.811, P < 0.001), and Stereotypic Behavior (F(1.742, 66.198) = 12.104, P < 0.001), but not for Hyperactivity/Noncompliance (F (2.564, 97.424) = 1.469, P = 0.232), and Inappropriate Speech subscales (F (1.607, 61.075) = 0.173, P = 0.794). By week 10, patients in the celecoxib group showed significantly greater improvement in the Irritability (P < 0.001), Lethargy/Social Withdrawal (P < 0.001), and Stereotypic Behavior (P < 0.00) but not in Hyperactivity/Noncompliance (P = 0.202) and Inappropriate Speech (P = 0.802) subscales than the placebo group. Complete response was achieved by four (20 %) patients in the placebo group and 11 (55 %) patients in the celecoxib group (χ (2) (1) = 5.227, P = 0.022). Frequency of side effects was similar between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS:

Combination of risperidone and celecoxib was superior to risperidone alone in treating irritability, social withdrawal, and stereotypy of children with autism.

Immune system gene dysregulation in autism and schizophrenia - Michel - 2012 - Developmental Neurobiology - Wiley Online Library

Immune system gene dysregulation in autism and schizophrenia - Michel - 2012 - Developmental Neurobiology - Wiley Online Library: Gene*environment interactions play critical roles in the emergence of autism and schizophrenia pathophysiology. In both disorders, recent genetic association studies have provided evidence for disease-linked variation in immune system genes and postmortem gene expression studies have shown extensive chronic immune abnormalities in brains of diseased subjects. Furthermore, peripheral biomarker studies revealed that both innate and adaptive immune systems are dysregulated. In both disorders symptoms of the disease correlate with the immune system dysfunction; yet, in autism this process appears to be chronic and sustained, while in schizophrenia it is exacerbated during acute episodes. Furthermore, since immune abnormalities endure into adulthood and anti-inflammatory agents appear to be beneficial, it is likely that these immune changes actively contribute to disease symptoms

A Review of Complementary and Alternative Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorders

A Review of Complementary and Alternative Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorders: Given the severe and chronic problems associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and the limitations of available treatments, there exists a large public health need for additional interventions. As more parents are inquiring about complementary and alternative treatments (CATs), both parents and practitioners require up-to-date information about them and whether and how to integrate them into treatment. After presenting data on CAT usage patterns for ASD, we review 13 ingestible (i.e., orally administered) and 6 noningestible (i.e., externally administered) CATs for ASD. For each CAT we briefly describe its definition; rationale for use; current research support, limitations, and future directions; safety issues; and whether we currently recommend, not recommend, or find it acceptable for the treatment of ASD. We conclude this paper with recommendations for future research and ten clinical recommendations for practitioners.

Autism spectrum disorders: a pediatric overview and update : Current Opinion in Pediatrics

Autism spectrum disorders: a pediatric overview and update : Current Opinion in Pediatrics: Although there have been considerable advances in identifying a genetic cause in many more cases, the cause remains elusive in most cases. Recent studies of concordant twins suggest there is a stronger environmental component than previously believed. Research suggests earlier diagnosis may be feasible in some cases, and a new treatment approach has been shown to be effective in very young children. Although there have not been any large-scale advances in the medical treatment, some isolated successes have been reported and other promising therapies are now being investigated.

Higher Levels of Toxic Metals in Blood, Urine of Children with Autism | Psych Central News

Higher Levels of Toxic Metals in Blood, Urine of Children with Autism | Psych Central News: Children with autism tend to have higher levels of several toxic metals in their blood and urine compared to typically developing children, according to a recent study published in the journal Biological Trace Element Research.

A proposed link between aging, autism, and oxidation

A proposed link between aging, autism, and oxidation: "Oxidation inexorably moves us along toward an oxidized state," said pharmaceutical sciences professor Richard Deth. "You have to deal with it progressively."

One option is to slow down the synthesis of new proteins, a process that requires energy. Indeed, as we age, we produce fewer new proteins, which explains why our capacity for learning and healing suffer as we grow old.

Toilet Training - November 1, 2008 - American Family Physician

Toilet Training - November 1, 2008 - American Family Physician: Mastering toilet training is a milestone in child development. Training occurs when new physical abilities, vocabulary, and self-esteem are rapidly developing.1 Children must integrate parental and societal expectations with their own evolving needs for independence and self-actualization. All healthy children are eventually toilet trained; most parents and day care providers are involved to some degree.

ScienceDirect.com - Research in Developmental Disabilities - Investigation of a reinforcement-based toilet training procedure for children with autism

ScienceDirect.com - Research in Developmental Disabilities - Investigation of a reinforcement-based toilet training procedure for children with autism: Independent toileting is an important developmental skill which individuals with developmental disabilities often find a challenge to master. Effective toilet training interventions have been designed which rely on a combination of basic operant principles of positive reinforcement and punishment. In the present study, the effectiveness of a reinforcement-based toilet training intervention was investigated with three children with a diagnosis of autism. Procedures included a combination of positive reinforcement, graduated guidance, scheduled practice trials and forward prompting. Results indicated that all procedures were implemented in response to urination accidents. A three participants reduced urination accidents to zero and learned to spontaneously request use of the bathroom within 7–11 days of training. Gains were maintained over 6-month and 1-year follow-ups. Findings suggest that the proposed procedure is an effective and rapid method of toilet training, which can be implemented within a structured school setting with generalization to the home environment.

Toilet Training for Children with Autism: The Effects of Video Modeling - Springer

Toilet Training for Children with Autism: The Effects of Video Modeling - Springer: This study assessed the effectiveness of an animated toilet training video for teaching daytime urinary control to five young boys with autism across several settings. A between and across groups multiple baseline design was used following a 2-week baseline-monitoring period. Children in the treatment condition received video modeling plus operant conditioning strategies, whereas children in the control condition received only operant conditioning strategies. Frequency of in-toilet urinations was found to be greater for children who watched the toileting video than for children who did not. Gains were maintained for three participants at a 6-week follow-up with generalization to a new setting for two participants. Results indicate that, for young children with autism who are resistant to toilet training, acquisition of urinary control may be facilitated by use of an animated toileting video in conjunction with operant conditioning strategies.

ScienceDirect.com - Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders - Toilet training individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities: A critical review

ScienceDirect.com - Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders - Toilet training individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities: A critical review: The following article reviews the current literature addressing toilet training individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities. The review addresses programs typical to toilet training the developmental disability population, most of which are modeled after the original Foxx and Azrin [Azrin, N. H., & Foxx, R. M. (1971). A rapid method of toilet training the institutionalized retarded. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis 4, 89–99; Foxx, R. M., & Azrin, N. H. (1973). Toilet training persons with developmental disabilities: A rapid program for day and nighttime independent toileting. Harrisburg, PA: Help Services Press] rapid toilet training methods. Components of such programs are isolated and described in their contribution to toilet training models. Studies are then reviewed and compared for participant and study characteristics. Individual studies validating toilet training programs are then discussed in light of their program components and efficacy. Shortcomings to currently available programs are highlighted and future areas of study are suggested.

A parent training model for toilet training children with autism - Kroeger - 2010 - Journal of Intellectual Disability Research - Wiley Online Library

A parent training model for toilet training children with autism - Kroeger - 2010 - Journal of Intellectual Disability Research - Wiley Online Library: Background Azrin & Foxx pioneered an intensive toilet training protocol for individuals with intellectual disability living in a residential setting. Since the development of the Rapid Toilet Training (RTT) protocol, many have replicated the efficacy, most notably in educational and outpatient treatment settings, but often training over longer periods of time. This study presents data from a parent training model that replicates Azrin and Foxx's results and training time.

Teaching a child with challenging behaviour to use the toilet: a clinical case study - Brown - 2011 - British Journal of Learning Disabilities - Wiley Online Library

Teaching a child with challenging behaviour to use the toilet: a clinical case study - Brown - 2011 - British Journal of Learning Disabilities - Wiley Online Library: Learning to use the toilet is an important developmental step for a child’s independence, health and dignity. It can be particularly difficult to teach continence skills to disabled children with aggressive or challenging behaviour. This study showed how Azrin & Foxx's (1971) basic toilet training procedure could be modified to teach a 13-year-old child with learning disabilities with aggressive behaviour to use the toilet in school. Urinary continence was achieved within 2 weeks and maintained at 6-week follow-up. Long-term data showed continence was maintained at 6-, 12- and 24-month follow-up. The programme was subsequently successfully transferred into the home. There is a strong evidence base for effective continence programmes, and the challenge now is how to disseminate their findings and ensure they are systematically used.

Autism, Depression Genetically Linked - ABC News

Autism, Depression Genetically Linked - ABC News: Autism, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia share common genetic underpinnings, despite differences in their symptoms and disease courses, a new study found.

5 Psych Disorders Have Common Genetics

5 Psych Disorders Have Common Genetics: Autism, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia share common genetic underpinnings -- despite differences in symptoms and course of disease, researchers discovered.

Autism and Medication Hell - AGE OF AUTISM

Autism and Medication Hell - AGE OF AUTISM: I am 18, a senior in high school,and the only sibling of an older brother with low-verbal autism. I recently read an article in which Dr. HylaClass discussed certain neurological drugs, their troubling side effects, and theirrelationship to violent behavior. Dr. Class also discussed the disturbing trendof individuals committing violent and homicidal acts while taking thesemedications.

Prenatal inflammation linked to autism risk, January 24, 2013 News Release - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Prenatal inflammation linked to autism risk, January 24, 2013 News Release - National Institutes of Health (NIH): Maternal inflammation during early pregnancy may be related to an increased risk of autism in children, according to new findings supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health. Researchers found this in children of mothers with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), a well-established marker of systemic inflammation.

Preventing autism? | Fox News Video

Preventing autism? | Fox News Video: Preventing autism?



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Epilepsy drug linked to tenfold increase in autism: researchers - Telegraph

Epilepsy drug linked to tenfold increase in autism: researchers - Telegraph: The study found children born to women who took sodium valproate, known as Epilim, were significantly more likely to suffer autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or dyspraxia.
Researchers warned that women should not stop taking the drug suddenly as fits can harm their unborn child and most women went on to have healthy children.

Babies Can Guess Other People's Thoughts | Child Development | LiveScience

Babies Can Guess Other People's Thoughts | Child Development | LiveScience: The results, published today (Jan. 29) in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society: B, come from a study of children spanning the globe, from rural China to the more remote islands of Fiji. Previously, scientists thought this ability to understand other people's perspectives emerged much later in children.

AutisMate: an iPad app for personalized autism therapy | VentureBeat

AutisMate: an iPad app for personalized autism therapy | VentureBeat: For children and adults with autism, who face daily challenges with basic social interaction, the iPad has been something of a godsend. Apple’s tablet has ushered in a slew of autism therapy apps that aim to replace equipment that previously cost thousands.

Deep brain stimulation helps with autism

Deep brain stimulation helps with autism: The use of electrodes implanted deep in the brain helps to counter the effects with autism and may help autistic people lead an improved life.

Promoting Joint Attention in Toddlers with Autism: A Parent-Mediated Developmental Model

Abstract Joint attention, a foundational nonverbal

social-communicative milestone that fails to develop

naturally in autism, was promoted for three toddlers

with early-identified autism through a parent-mediated,

developmentally grounded, researcher-guided intervention

model. A multiple baseline design compared

child performance across four phases of intervention:

focusing on faces, turn-taking, responding to joint

attention, and initiating joint attention. All toddlers

improved performance and two showed repeated

engagement in joint attention, supporting the effectiveness

of developmentally appropriate methods that

build on the parent–child relationship. A complementary

qualitative analysis explored family challenges,

parent resilience, and variables that may have influenced

outcomes. Intervention models appropriate for

toddlers with autism are needed as improved early

identification efforts bring younger children into early

intervention services.
Click here to read the article

Increasing verbal responsiveness in parents of children with autism:a pilot study

Abstract

Correlational studies have revealed a positive relationship between parent verbal responsiveness

and language outcomes in children with autism. We investigated whether parents of young

children on the autism spectrum could learn and implement the specific categories of verbal

responsiveness that have been suggested to facilitate language development. Parents were

taught to increase their verbal responsiveness in the context of a short-term language

intervention that included group parent education sessions, as well as individual and smallgroup

coaching sessions of parent–child play interactions. Parents in the treatment group

increased their use of comments that: described their child’s focus of attention; interpreted or

expanded child communication acts; and prompted child communication. Preliminary treatment

effects were also noted in children’s prompted and spontaneous communication. These results

support the use of parent-mediated interventions targeting verbal responsiveness to facilitate

language development and communication in young children with autism.
Click here for the article

Autism linked to gut bacteria, study finds | therecord

Autism linked to gut bacteria, study finds | therecord: Researchers have identified a unique blood marker that shows a link between gut bacteria and autism in some children diagnosed with the neurodevelopmental disorder.

In a new study published in the journal Translational Psychiatry, they found evidence of abnormal energy metabolism in a group of autistic children as a result compounds produced by gut bacteria frequently found in people with autism.

Prenatal Inflammation Linked to Autism | Psych Central News

Prenatal Inflammation Linked to Autism | Psych Central News: Maternal inflammation during early pregnancy has been linked to an increased risk of autism in children, according to new research.

In the new study, researchers found an increased risk of autism in children of mothers with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation.

Who Can Outgrow or Recover From Autism - WSJ.com

Who Can Outgrow or Recover From Autism - WSJ.com: Evidence is growing for a notion long observed by doctors and parents: Some children with autism appear to grow out of their symptoms and recover fully.

Study looks at worm therapy to treat autism | Fox News

Study looks at worm therapy to treat autism | Fox News: The use of this alternative medicine is all part of the hygiene hypothesis – the idea that ‘harmful’ organisms might actually be protecting our immune systems. In the 19th century, people did not bathe as frequently as they do now, and many lived among ‘filth’ – but autoimmune diseases were virtually non-existent. Subsequently, those who currently live in third-world countries also have a lower rate of developing autoimmune diseases.

Study looks at worm therapy to treat autism | Fox News

Study looks at worm therapy to treat autism | Fox News: The use of this alternative medicine is all part of the hygiene hypothesis – the idea that ‘harmful’ organisms might actually be protecting our immune systems. In the 19th century, people did not bathe as frequently as they do now, and many lived among ‘filth’ – but autoimmune diseases were virtually non-existent. Subsequently, those who currently live in third-world countries also have a lower rate of developing autoimmune diseases.

Study: Some Children May Outgrow Autism - US News and World Report

Study: Some Children May Outgrow Autism - US News and World Report: "Although the diagnosis of autism is not usually lost over time, the findings suggest that there is a very wide range of possible outcomes," Thomas Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health, told BBC.

American parents awarded £600,000 in compensation after their son developed autism as a result of MMR vaccine | Mail Online

American parents awarded £600,000 in compensation after their son developed autism as a result of MMR vaccine | Mail Online: The American decision - although it doesn’t lay fault for the child’s disability with the drug - fuels anti-MMR campaigners challenging the view of the majority of the medical profession that holds the vaccinations are safe.

The claim was against the US government which set up a Vaccine Programme.

Early Autism Treatment Benefits Kids' Brains

By age 4, children given the treatment had higher IQ scores, more adaptive behavior, better coordination, and a less severe autism diagnosis than kids given the standard autism treatments offered in their communities. But that's not all, researchers Geraldine Dawson, PhD, and colleagues report.

Early Autism Treatment Benefits Kids' Brains

mitochondrial disorders and autism

mitochondrial disorders and autism: Children with a mitochondrial disorder can regress into an autism like state if one of several things happen. One of them is a fever, and fever, as we all know, is a common side effect of vaccination. Hannah Poling had an underlying mitochondrial disorder, and was awarded compensation for vaccines role in aggravating her condition into a autism like state.

Autism Science Digest: Aluminum Toxicity in Mitochondrial Dysfunction and ASD - AGE OF AUTISM

Autism Science Digest: Aluminum Toxicity in Mitochondrial Dysfunction and ASD - AGE OF AUTISM: A carefully executedreview and meta-analysis of mitochondrial dysfunction in ASD by Rossignol andFrye discerned that the prevalence of full syndrome mitochondrial disease inchildren with ASD is significantly higher than it is in children in general.

SSRI Autism Roundup: New Concerns for a New Year

A potential link between the emergence of autism in a child and the use of various SSRI-based antidepressants by a mother during pregnancy has been suggested by research. Not lost on researchers involved in a study published in 2011 in the Archives of General Psychiatry (7/11), is an increase in the prevalence of autism and autism spectrum disorders at the same time as a dramatic increase in the use of antidepressants??"up 400 percent in the last 20 years. The emergence of SSRI antidepressants has given doctors more medicinal options in the treatment of depression and depressive disorders, and their popularity is demonstrative by the dramatic increase in SSRI use.

Local Family Using Breakthrough Autism Treatment | Mobile AL, Pensacola FL News, Weather, Sports | WPMI-TV | Local15TV.com

Local Family Using Breakthrough Autism Treatment | Mobile AL, Pensacola FL News, Weather, Sports | WPMI-TV | Local15TV.com: The relatively new therapy called Integrated Listening uses the power of music, and is used at Kids Kount in Daphne.

"We've never seen a child that never made marked gains," Occupational Therapist Cindy Dawkins said. "Out of 35 years of being an occupational therapist, this has been the most powerful tool that I've used."

More Evidence Vitamin D May Reduce Autism Risk

More Evidence Vitamin D May Reduce Autism Risk: Children and adolescents living in the United States in states with higher levels of ultraviolet B (UVB) exposure are much less likely to develop autism than their counterparts living in states with lower levels of solar UVB exposure, new research shows.

7 foods destroying your good mood | Fox News

7 foods destroying your good mood | Fox News: A delightfully toasted sesame seed bagel. Crispy, crunchy potato chips. An effervescent fountain of sweet soda. These all sound like comforting foods that can wrap you in a sensation of coziness. However, while they may taste so good, these foods are not always so good for you or your mood.