Current Autism News & Research or Hope for Autism

Index

2014-01-13T11:59:00.000-08:00

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

2012-02-07T16:55:00.000-08:00

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."

Autism linked to other disorders - USATODAY.com

2012-01-23T16:32:00.000-08:00

Autism linked to other disorders - USATODAY.com: Many children with autism also have other developmental or psychiatric conditions, including learning disabilities, speech delays, attention or seizure disorders and anxiety.
According to new research, some of those co-occurring conditions may explain why autism diagnoses often change as children get older.
In a survey by researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, more than one-third of parents with children between 6 and 17 years old reported that their child's diagnosis of autism had changed over time.

'Love hormone' which makes mothers kinder could help treat autism | Mail Online

2012-01-14T08:36:00.000-08:00

'Love hormone' which makes mothers kinder could help treat autism Mail Online: 'If that's true, it's really cool, because it suggests that oxytocin breaks down normal social barriers.'However past research has suggested that the hormone could also have a negative impact, prompting participants to become angry and more aggressive.
Confirming this suspicion, Platt observed that within the first hour or two after getting the hormone, the monkeys actually became more selfish and it took a couple of hours for them to become more social and compassionate.

Why is Autism on the rise?

2012-01-06T16:34:00.000-08:00

Over the last decade many have asked what the cause has been in the increase of autism. Some of the problem in answering the question arises from the question itself. Too often we look for an explicit cause of something, for example the rise in autism, when there may not be a cause. It is more likely that there are a number of intervening variables which have fed what many consider a substantial rise in the number or percentage of children with the disorder. (I added “many consider” to the previous sentence because there are some who do not believe there is an actual substantial increase in the occurrence of the disorder, only the diagnosis. Some of the articles referenced below will share this differing point of view.)

So, what are some of the intervening variables that appear to have an effect on the rise of autism?

Age of Parents

Fairly recent research has shown a strong correlation between the age of the parents (father and/or mother) and an increased risk of a child being born with autism. As one article states: “Advanced maternal and paternal ages are independently associated with ASD risk.” (a) Are more parents waiting until they are older to have children?

Genetics

It’s commonly understood that genetics play a significant role in many if not most cases of autism. (b)

One or Two Parents with Mild Autistic like Symptoms

This is sometimes seen in parents who are in certain professional fields. (c) When both parents are in these fields, sometimes referred to as systemizing fields, the chances of having a child with autism increase even further. Are more parents working and finding success in these fields than in the past? Are more of these parents meeting others with similar “systemizing” characteristics, and having children together? (see: Empathizing–systemizing theory: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empathizing%E2%80%93systemizing_theory)

“This is sometimes seen in parents who are in professional fields such engineering, computer science, and accounting. “Experts are becoming increasingly concerned that engineers, scientists and computer programmers who meet their partners at work may be fuelling an increase in cases of autism.” (c.1)

Lack of Prenatal Vitamins

A number of research articles have demonstrated a correlation between the lack of some prenatal vitamins and a higher occurrence of Autism. One of these is vitamin D (d), possibly due to greater levels of pollution and fewer hours under the sun. Other vitamins include the folic acids. (d.1.)

Pollution and Toxic Substances (possibly both internal and external) (d)

A number of studies have demonstrated a correlation between the increase of certain pollutants, to include mercury, and possibly other pollutants found close to a busy freeway (e), and higher incidences of autism. There may be a correlation between higher incidences of autism and other pollutants as well.

Better Identification

Better tools and awareness as well as training and expertise have resulted in more children being diagnosed earlier and more correctly. Logically there have been children who may have previously been diagnosed with another disorder, such as a language disorder, and who are now being diagnosed with Autism. (f)

Broader Categorization

This now includes Aspergers (Asbergers) as well as a spectrum disorder, PDD NOS. Many children are diagnosed today, to be found within the autism spectrum who would not have been fifteen, ten, or even five years ago. (g) Some studies have demonstrated that 25% of the increase of autism spectrum diagnoses in California to be correlated with changes in diagnostic criteria. (g.1)

Over Identification

There have always been “popular” diagnoses. ADHD recently when through that phase with a significantly higher percentage of children being diagnosed in the US than Europe. There is a great deal of anecdotal evidence of parents telling their doctor that they think (or know) their child has autism and receiving the diagnosis from the doctor. There has also been a study showing that there is a increased chance of a child receiving the diagnosis when the parent knows another parent with a child with autism. There could be a number of causes for this; however, the study believes the result is over identification. (h)

Diseases

Doctors have found a connection between some mothers who have contracted Lyme disease before or during pregnancy and autism in their children. Though this represents a very small number of children, it may have an impact on some and the treatment of the Lyme disease seems to alleviate the autistic symptoms in the child. (i) There is also a correlation in some cases between prenatal difficulties to include maternal infection and autism.

Gastrointestinal (j)

Other Variables

There are a number of additional variables which while they too are probably not causes of autism, they may have an impact on the child’s development of the disorder.

While the actual percentage of children being diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder has increased dramatically, some, perhaps as many as 25% (as demonstrated in some California studies) of the increase is due to changing diagnostic criteria as well as inaccurate diagnoses. This still leaves a substantial increase in the percentage of children with an accurate diagnosis and the corresponding needs for intervention. This is probably due to a combination of risk factors as noted above.

References: With opposing points of view.

Study Fails To Establish Diagnostic Substitution as a Factor in Increased Rate of Autism

http://pharmacotherapyjournal.org/doi/abs/10.1592/phco.24.8.812.36060?journalCode=phco

What's going on? The question of time trends in autism.

http://www.blogger.com/goog_663558501

(a) Maternal and Paternal Age and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders

http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/161/4/334

(b) The Increase in Autism Diagnoses: Two Hypotheses

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/the-increase-in-autism-diagnoses-two-hypotheses/

(b) Advances in autism genetics: on the threshold of a new neurobiology

http://www.nature.com/nrg/journal/v9/n5/full/nrg2346.html

(b) The Genetics of Autism

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/113/5/e472.short

(c.1) Couple who meet at work have autistic babies?

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health/Couple-who-meet-at-work-have-autistic-babies/articleshow/10829638.cms

(c) Do Tech-Rich Regions Have More Autism?

http://blogs.wsj.com/ideas-market/2011/06/21/do-tech-rich-regions-have-more-autism/?mod=google_news_blog

(c) Are Autism Spectrum Conditions More Prevalent in an Information-Technology Region? A School-Based Study of Three Regions in the Netherlands

http://www.springerlink.com/content/4n265812pw547773/

(c) Mathematical Talent is Linked to Autism

http://www.springerlink.com/content/21t03377610752g0/

(c) Autism spectrum disorders in relation to parental occupation in technical fields (This article partially contradicts some of the other related articles.)

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aur.84/full

(c) The hyper-systemizing, assortative mating theory of autism

http://www.autismresearchcentre.com/docs/papers/2006_BC_Neuropsychophamacology.pdf

(d) Autism and Vitamin D

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306987707005373

(d.1) Prenatal Vitamins, One-carbon Metabolism Gene Variants, and Risk for Autism

http://www.blogger.com/goog_663558526

(d.1) Folic Acid Supplements in Pregnancy and Severe Language Delay in Children

http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/306/14/1566.short

(e) Proximity to point sources of environmental mercury release as a predictor of autism prevalence

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1353829208000142

(e) Residential Proximity to Freeways and Autism in the CHARGE Study

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3114825/

(e) Mercury and autism: Accelerating Evidence?

http://www.detoxmetals.com/content/AUTISM%20AND%20Hg/autism_reprint.pdf

(e) Autism Spectrum Disorders and Identified Toxic Land Fills: Co-Occurrence Across States

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3091342/

(e) A Significant Factor in Autism: Methyl Mercury Induced Oxidative Stress in Genetically Susceptible Individuals

http://www.springerlink.com/content/t333806128710n2t/

(a)(b)(e) Contributions of the environment and environmentally vulnerable physiology to autism spectrum disorders

http://journals.lww.com/co-neurology/Abstract/2010/04000/Contributions_of_the_environment_and.4.aspx

(f) Identification and Evaluation of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/pediatrics;120/5/1183

(f) Recent Advances in Early Identification and Treatment of Autism

http://cdp.sagepub.com/content/20/5/335.short

(f) Prospective Identification of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Infancy and Toddlerhood Using Developmental Surveillance: The Social Attention and Communication Study

http://journals.lww.com/jrnldbp/Abstract/2010/06000/Prospective_Identification_of_Autism_Spectrum.3.aspx

(f) Pediatricians’ perspectives on identification and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders

http://ecr.sagepub.com/content/8/3/254.short

(f) Identification and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders: an update

http://www.futuremedicine.com/

(g) The increasing prevalence of autism spectrum disorders

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1750946710000917

(g) (h) Validity of Three Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) Subtypes— Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, and PDD Not Otherwise Specified

http://www.touchpsychiatry.com/articles/validity-three-pervasive-developmental-disorder-pdd-subtypes-autistic-disorder-asperger-s-d?page=0,4

(g.1) Diagnostic change and the increased prevalence of autism

http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/38/5/1224.short

(g) (h) Social Influence and the Autism Epidemic

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2927813/

(h) The challenges of diagnosing Autism spectrum disorder in the community

http://gradworks.umi.com/34/81/3481401.html

(h) Stability of Initial Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnoses in Community Settings

http://www.springerlink.com/content/4k15g10321560507/

(i) Doctors find link between Lyme disease, Autism

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/09/27/doctors-find-link-between-lyme-disease-autism/

(i)A Qualitative and Quantitative Review of Obstetric Complications and Autistic Disorder

http://www.springerlink.com/content/b27wwmu86966r987/

(i)Immune involvement in schizophrenia and autism: Etiology, pathology and animal models

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166432808006980

(i) The Time of Prenatal Immune Challenge Determines the Specificity of Inflammation-Mediated Brain and Behavioral Pathology

http://www.jneurosci.org/content/26/18/4752.short

(j) Autism and gastrointestinal symptoms

http://www.springerlink.com/content/h02x77hu54672212/

Coconut Oil Touted as Alzheimer's Remedy - Health & Science - CBN News - Christian News 24-7 - CBN.com

2012-01-05T17:10:00.000-08:00

Coconut Oil Touted as Alzheimer's Remedy - Health & Science - CBN News - Christian News 24-7 - CBN.com: An estimated 5.4 million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and that number is expected to increase exponentially as baby boomer generation enters their golden years.
But for some people, coconut oil has proven to slow the progression of Alzheimer's and may have even prevented it.

Trained Peers Better at Aiding Autistic Kids with Social Skills | Psych Central News

2011-12-03T08:28:00.000-08:00

Trained Peers Better at Aiding Autistic Kids with Social Skills Psych Central News: A new study suggests training peers can help children with autism spectrum disorder improve their social skills, even more than a direct adult-led intervention

Supporting Families and Caregivers in Everyday Routines

2011-12-03T08:23:00.000-08:00

Supporting Families and Caregivers in Everyday Routines: Incorporating intervention into daily life can enhance a child's development. Early-intervention clinicians are key to teaching parents and other caregivers how to provide opportunities for children to practice and expand language abilities as they play, get dressed, eat, and take part in other daily activities.
The charge of early intervention is to provide supports to help families and caregivers enhance their children's learning and development through everyday enrichment opportunities (IDEA, 2004). Children are thus able to practice skills throughout the day, every day, in meaningful ways.

Couple who meet at work have autistic babies? - The Times of India

2011-11-22T11:29:00.000-08:00

Couple who meet at work have autistic babies? - The Times of India: Previous studies have suggested that the condition is more prevalent among people who are 'systemisers' - those who do jobs relating to systems and how they work, such as computer programmes or machines.
People who 'systemise' are often obsessed with making sense of complex topics, and can achieve great things, but have difficulty empathising with people.
Professor Baron-Cohen has said that being a systemiser may be a symptom of an 'extreme male brain' due to high levels of testosterone.

CDPH Publishes Study on Autism and Maternal and Paternal Age

2011-11-19T09:41:00.000-08:00

CDPH Publishes Study on Autism and Maternal and Paternal Age: Reviewing a larger population than in any other study of its kind, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has found that as parents age their risk of giving birth to a child with autism increases modestly.

Published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, the new CDPH study shows that for each 10-year increase in a mother's age, the risk of autism increased by about 38 percent. For each 10-year increase in a father's age, the risk of autism increased by about 22 percent.

Neurofeedback and Autism

2011-11-15T16:20:00.000-08:00

Click on the link below for scholarly articles.

Click here

Airway abnormality may point to autism - USATODAY.com

2011-11-11T09:28:00.000-08:00

Airway abnormality may point to autism - USATODAY.com: While examining children with autism who came in for a persistent cough, Dr. Barbara Stewart used a bronchoscope -- which can see down into the windpipe and the airways that branch into the lungs -- and noticed something different about those branches.
In a typical lung, the windpipe, or trachea, branches into two main stems. From there, airways branch off the stems much like tree branches in a random, asymmetrical pattern, said Stewart, a pediatric pulmonologist at Nemours Children's Clinic in Pensacola, Fla.

Autistic children have 'too many brain cells in region for emotional development' | Mail Online

2011-11-10T17:06:00.000-08:00

Autistic children have 'too many brain cells in region for emotional development' Mail Online: Children with autism appear to have too many cells in a key area of the brain needed for communication and emotional development, scientists said today.The find helps to explain why young children with autism often develop brains that are larger than normal.
The study by U.S. researchers suggests the condition starts in the womb because brain cells in this area known as the prefrontal cortex typically develop during the second trimester of pregnancy.

Potential Link Found Between Type 2 Diabetes and Autism | Psych Central News

2011-10-20T19:05:00.000-07:00

Potential Link Found Between Type 2 Diabetes and Autism Psych Central News: Emerging research suggests a possible link between autism and Type 2 diabetes, two disorders on the rise in the United States.
Investigators base their hypothesis upon a review of genetic and biochemical abnormalities associated with autism.

Doctors Find Link Between Lyme Disease, Autism | Fox News

2011-09-28T14:22:00.000-07:00

Doctors Find Link Between Lyme Disease, Autism Fox News: Although the mystery of autism continues to puzzle the medical community, some doctors are finding a link between autism and Lyme disease, which is called “Lyme-Induced Autism,” FOX40 Sacramento reported.

Keeping People With Special Needs Safe | Fox News

2011-09-21T19:38:00.000-07:00

Keeping People With Special Needs Safe Fox News: A number of products and advancements in technology have brought more sophisticated options to these worried families. For people who know they can't supervise those with special needs every second of the day, some products have let them breathe a little easier.

I don't usually comment on these articles; but this is very cool!

US researchers' discovery promises answers on autism | The Australian

2011-09-08T16:15:00.000-07:00

US researchers' discovery promises answers on autism The Australian: RESEARCHERS have for the first time identified two biologically different strains of autism in a major breakthrough being compared with the discovery of different forms of cancer in the 1960s.

Antidepressants Show Signs Of Countering Alzheimer’s - Science News

2011-08-23T16:31:00.000-07:00

Antidepressants Show Signs Of Countering Alzheimer’s - Science News: Widely used antidepressants may reduce the ominous brain plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease, a new study in mice and humans finds.
Brain scans of people who have taken antidepressants reveal fewer clumps of the protein amyloid-beta, a target of Alzheimer’s prevention strategies, when compared with people who have not taken the drugs.

New method to detect autism in kids - The Times of India

2011-07-26T07:19:00.000-07:00

New method to detect autism in kids - The Times of India: "For the first time, scientists have found a method that can accurately identify a biological sign of autism in very young toddlers.
Until know the biological causes of autism were not understood and diagnosis of autism was only possible after ages three or four; and the tests are subjective, based on behavioural symptoms."

Ockham's Razor and autism: the case for developmen... [Neurotoxicology. 2009] - PubMed result

2011-07-06T18:44:00.000-07:00

Ockham's Razor and autism: the case for developmen... [Neurotoxicology. 2009] - PubMed result: "Much professional awareness regarding environmental triggers for ASD has been narrowly focused on a single possible exposure pathway (vaccines). Meanwhile, empirical support for environmental toxins as a broad class has been quietly accumulating. Recent research has shown that persons with ASD have comparatively higher levels of various toxins and are more likely to have reduced detoxifying ability, and, that rates of ASD may be higher in areas with greater pollution. This report documents that within the state with the highest rate of ASD, the rate is higher for schools near EPA Superfund sites, t (332)=3.84, p=.0001. The reasons for the rise in diagnoses likely involve genetically predisposed individuals being exposed to various environmental triggers at higher rates than in past generations."

Some children have some predispositions and are susceptible to various environmental influences. This is why cause and effect research is so difficult and often misleading.

Read the entire article here.

Out of Sync Brain May Be a Clue to Autism

2011-06-23T16:44:00.000-07:00

Out of Sync Brain May Be a Clue to Autism: "Toddlers with autism are more likely to have abnormal synchronization between certain brain areas than other kids the same age, even those with language delays, according to a new study.
''There seems to be impaired or reduced synchronization between the right and left hemispheres, specifically the areas involved in language and communication,' says researcher Ilan Dinstein, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel."

Do Tech-Rich Regions Have More Autism? - Ideas Market - WSJ

2011-06-21T17:02:00.000-07:00

Do Tech-Rich Regions Have More Autism? - Ideas Market - WSJ: "The hypothesis that there’s a link between autism and minds oriented toward math and technology just grew stronger: A new study has found that a region of the Netherlands known for high-tech industry has substantially higher levels of autism-spectrum conditions than two other regions."

'Face blind' sufferers see world like this. But now there's hope - Scotsman.com

2011-06-17T18:43:00.000-07:00

'Face blind' sufferers see world like this. But now there's hope - Scotsman.com: "A SCOTTISH eye expert has developed what he says is the first treatment in the world for people who suffer from face blindness.
The condition, also known as prosopagnosia, impairs the ability of people to recognise faces and facial expressions and is common in people with autism.

Now optometrist Ian Jordan has developed a system using coloured lenses to help people overcomADVERTISEMENT
e the disability, which can have a serious impact on their lives."

How common is autism?

2011-06-09T11:16:00.000-07:00

"Earlier this month, a press release from Yale University announced: "Prevalence of Autism in South Korea Estimated at 1 in 38 Children". This estimate was considerably higher than recent UK studies (Baird et al, and Baron-Cohen et al). There are three possibilities: either children in South Korea are at unusually high risk of autism; previous studies have dramatically underestimated the prevalence of autism; or this new study gives an overestimate.

The authors reject the first option and plump for the second. Their estimate, they maintain, is so high because they looked for children in mainstream schools, doing their own assessments of children detected on an initial screening questionnaire, rather than relying on existing diagnoses."

To read the rest of the article, click below.

Baron-Cohen et al

Who Will Be Autistic in 2013? Learn More About the New Diagnostic Criteria

2011-05-27T13:26:00.000-07:00

Who Will Be Autistic in 2013? Learn More About the New Diagnostic Criteria: "As many of you know, the American Psychiatric Association is in the process of revamping the DSM - the diagnostic manual that names and describes the symptoms of mental, neurological and developmental disorders for practitioners in the United States and, to some degree, in other nations. The present criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorders are in for some huge changes if the proposed criteria are approved. Some of these changes include the removal of the categories Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger Syndrome. The new criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder are quite different, too: many people who were once included in that group will no longer fit the criteria."

The Canadian Press: Brain structure, gene expression differ dramatically in autistic brain: study

2011-05-27T13:23:00.000-07:00

The Canadian Press: Brain structure, gene expression differ dramatically in autistic brain: study: "'If you randomly pick 20 people with autism, the cause of each person's disease will be unique,' said principal investigator Dr. Daniel Geschwind, chair of human genetics at the University of California, Los Angeles. 'Yet when we examined how genes and proteins interact in autistic people's brains, we saw well-defined shared patterns. This common thread could hold the key to pinpointing the disorder's origins.'"

New Research Study on Most Effective Seizure Treatments for Children with Autism... -- SAN DIEGO, May 24, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

2011-05-25T19:06:00.000-07:00

New Research Study on Most Effective Seizure Treatments for Children with Autism... -- SAN DIEGO, May 24, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --: "A study just published in BMC Pediatrics by Dr. Richard E. Frye from the University of Texas in Houston and Dr. James B. Adams from the Arizona State University in Tempe has now provided insight into which traditional and non-traditional medical treatments are most beneficial for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and seizures. These researchers surveyed 733 parents of children with autism spectrum disorder and seizures, epilepsy and/or subclinical seizure-like brain activity to rate the effectiveness of 25 traditional and 20 non-traditional medical treatments on seizures. The survey also assessed the effect of those treatments on other symptoms (sleep, communication, behavior, attention and mood)and side effects."

Health News - Women who start prenatal vitamins early are less likely to have children with autism

2011-05-25T18:58:00.000-07:00

Health News - Women who start prenatal vitamins early are less likely to have children with autism: "Women who reported not taking a daily prenatal vitamin immediately before and during the first month of pregnancy were nearly twice as likely to have a child with an autism spectrum disorder as women who did take the supplements — and the associated risk rose to seven times as great when combined with a high-risk genetic make-up, a study by researchers at the UC Davis MIND Institute has found."

New study claims 83 autism cases caused by vaccinations - ksl.com

2011-05-24T18:29:00.000-07:00

New study claims 83 autism cases caused by vaccinations - ksl.com: "A study scheduled for publication in the Pace Environmental Law Review closely examined public information on 1,300 cases in which the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program compensated families. Significant brain injuries were found in compensated patients as a direct result of vaccinations. Eighty-three cases specifically resulted in autism and are being called, “the tip of the iceberg.”"

Pediatric Massage: A Nurturing Intervention for Autism

2011-05-23T18:21:00.000-07:00

Pediatric Massage: A Nurturing Intervention for Autism: "Researchers have found that children with autism spectrum disorders show less stereotypical autistic behavior, are more social and attentive after receiving massage therapy and have less anxiety. Pediatric massage might provide relaxation, stress reduction and calm muscle spasms. Over time, the child typically becomes more accustomed to tactile stimulation and the regular intervention of pediatric massage might be beneficial in reducing inattentiveness, touch aversion and withdrawal."

Developmental Disabilities on the Rise in U.S.

2011-05-23T18:20:00.000-07:00

Developmental Disabilities on the Rise in U.S.: "Most of the increase occurred in autism and ADHD, but it is not clear if the incidence of these disorders is substantially rising or if the numbers reflect an increased emphasis on early diagnosis and treatment, greater awareness of the conditions by parents and teachers, and a broadening of the diagnostic criteria.
Boule says the fact that more women are having babies later in life and more babies are being born preterm may be contributing to the rise."

Fever during pregnancy, diabetes and obesity may raise autism risk - USATODAY.com

2011-05-16T11:24:00.000-07:00

Fever during pregnancy, diabetes and obesity may raise autism risk - USATODAY.com: "giving birth by Cesarean section isn't associated with autism in offspring, but having diabetes or high blood pressure or being obese while pregnant seems to be."

Joint Attention, Social Reciprocity, Mand Training, Mothers as Behavior Analysts

2011-05-05T12:26:00.000-07:00

Page 252: Parent Implemented Joint Attention Intervention for Preschoolers

with Autism - Emily A. Jones and Kathleen M. Feeley

Page 269: Teaching Imitation to Children with Autism: A focus on Social

Reciprocity - Brooke Ingersoll

Page 278: Comprehensive Analysis of Mand Training - Michele D. Wallace

Page 287: The Experiences of "Autism Mothers" who become Behavior

Analysts: A Qualitative Study - Mary L. Barbera.

http://www.baojournal.com/SLP-ABA%20WEBSITE/SLP-ABA-VOL-2/SLP-ABA-2-3.pdf

Functional Categories of Immediate Echolalia

2011-05-04T05:42:00.001-07:00

Functional Categories of Immediate Echolalia: "Immediate echolalia refers to replicated utterances that are produced or echoed immediately or almost immediately after they are heard. Many individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may repeat utterances as a temporary step prior to or while they are developing fluent generative or creative spoken language."

Functional Categories of Delayed Echolalia

2011-05-04T05:42:00.000-07:00

Functional Categories of Delayed Echolalia: "Delayed echolalia is the repetition of verbal messages that were previously heard and which are repeated after a time delay of a few minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, or years. It is sometimes more difficult to recognize delayed echolalia since the listener (the one to whom an interactive delayed echolalic message is directed) may not have been present when the original utterance or model message was uttered or, if present, the person may have forgotten"

Five-minute questionnaire identifies subtle signs of autism in one-year olds - Telegraph

2011-04-29T05:35:00.000-07:00

Five-minute questionnaire identifies subtle signs of autism in one-year olds - Telegraph: "Researchers said the checklist, which could be filled out in the waiting room of doctor's surgery, could help catch the condition earlier and lead to more effective treatment.
Identifying Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at an early age allows children to start treatment sooner, which can greatly improve their later development and learning."

The Development of an Effective Applied Behavioral Analysis... : Infants & Young Children

2011-04-22T11:41:00.000-07:00

The Development of an Effective Applied Behavioral Analysis... : Infants & Young Children: "Research indicates that applied behavioral analysis can make significant improvements in the skills of young children with autism. A shortage of trained professionals need not keep a family from developing an effective program for a young child with autism. The key to implementing an appropriate treatment plan lies in consistency, simplicity, intensity, and precision. Home programming for a young child with autism can achieve positive results; however, a parent-driven, center-based model provides more creative use of resources by allowing for shared training, supplies, space, and fundraising. It also allows for strong mutual support and the opportunity for a greater pool of data from which to advocate."

Autism: Behavioral Therapy Trumps Medication, Studies Say - ABC News

2011-04-04T11:12:00.000-07:00

Autism: Behavioral Therapy Trumps Medication, Studies Say - ABC News: "While there is no cure for autism, there is no shortage of purported treatments to manage the range of symptoms associated with the wide spectrum of the disorder. And, like Penrod, many parents of newly diagnosed children find themselves inundated with overflowing and at times conflicting treatment recommendations."

A Controlled Trial of a Training Course for Parents of Children with Suspected Autism Spectrum Disorder

2011-03-24T13:00:00.001-07:00

A Controlled Trial of a Training Course for Parents of Children with Suspected Autism Spectrum Disorder: "Taking into account scores at recruitment, child's level of ability, diagnostic grouping, and the interval between assessments, a significant advantage was found for the intervention group in parents' observed use of facilitative strategies and in children's vocabulary size.
Conclusions
The training course is well received by parents and has a measurable effect on both parents' and children's communication skills."

Interest in toys predicts autism treatment`s effectiveness in toddlers

2011-03-24T13:00:00.000-07:00

Interest in toys predicts autism treatment`s effectiveness in toddlers: "A new study has found that toddlers with autism who played with a limited number of toys showed more improvement in their communication skills following parent-guided treatment than those receiving other community-based treatments.
The study is the first to examine this autism treatment - called Hanen's More Than Words - for children younger than 2 showing early signs of an autism spectrum disorder."

Educating the Spectrum | MontereyCountyWeekly.com

2011-03-24T12:35:00.000-07:00

Educating the Spectrum MontereyCountyWeekly.com: "About six years ago, Katie (not her real name), who is autistic, couldn’t read “Don’t Walk.” Her mom worried she’d never develop basic comprehension to keep her safe while crossing the street. 
“She was using some of the best curricula out there, and yet she still wasn’t mastering it,” remembers Colleen Davis, a Monterey County Office of Education board-certified behavior analyst. "

Serotonin plays role in many autism cases, studies confirm

2011-02-24T13:26:00.000-08:00

Serotonin plays role in many autism cases, studies confirm: "Mouse models are yielding important clues about the nature of autism spectrum disorders, which impact an estimated one in 110 children in the U.S.[1] In labs at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio, researchers are studying strains of mice that inherently mimic the repetitive and socially impaired behaviors present in these disorders.
Georgianna Gould, Ph.D., research assistant professor of physiology in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, is eyeing the role that serotonin plays in autism spectrum disorders."

Study finds many children with autism improve social skills over time - Columbia Missourian

2011-01-25T19:07:00.000-08:00

Study finds many children with autism improve social skills over time - Columbia Missourian: "COLUMBIA — A clinical child psychologist has found that many children with autism gain more verbal and social skills over time.
Catherine Lord, who is the head of the University of Michigan’s Autism and Communication Disorder Center, said that while some previous studies stated 50 percent of 9-year-old children with autism were mostly nonverbal, her study found that 14 percent were nonverbal. Lord presented the findings of her study Monday night at a lecture at MU."

Learn the Signs. Act Early.

2011-01-18T17:27:00.001-08:00

Here you can view or download the various materials for the "Learn the Signs. Act Early." Campaign designed for parents and health care professionals. All downloads are available in the Adobe® Portable Document Format (PDF).
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/downloads.html

Autism Screening Quiz

2011-01-18T17:25:00.000-08:00

According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 'there are a number of things that parents, teachers, and others who care for children can look for to determine if a child needs to be evaluated for autism.' This autism quiz asks about 'red flags' that could be a sign that a Pediatrician or other health professional should evaluate a child for autism or a related communication disorder.
http://pediatrics.about.com/od/autism/l/bl_autism.htm

PEDS and PEDS:DM

2011-01-18T17:23:00.000-08:00

PEDS and PEDS:DM are two highly accurate, valid developmental-behavioral screening and surveilance tools. Used alone or together, they comply with AAP policy and offer the best solution for early detection. We also offer PEDS ONLINE that also includes the Modified Checklist of Autism in Toddlers. PEDS ONLINE offers error-free scoring, ICD-9 and procedure codes, generates summary reports for parents, and referral letters when needed.

http://www.pedstest.com/default.aspx

Ages and Stages Developmental Screening

2011-01-18T17:20:00.000-08:00

ASQ-3™ and the NEW ASQ Online products are here—now the #1 developmental screener is better than ever! With a NEW research sample of more than 15,000 children and careful attention to user feedback, the experts behind ASQ have made dozens of enhancements to help identify delays as early as possible, save time and money, and make your job easier. Join the thousands who trust ASQ today, and you’ll have the most accurate, valid, and parent-friendly way to screen children from one month to 5 ½ years.
http://www.agesandstages.com/

Closely Spaced Pregnancies Linked to Increased Autism Risk - ABC News

2011-01-10T09:18:00.000-08:00

Closely Spaced Pregnancies Linked to Increased Autism Risk - ABC News: "The rising prevalence of autism in the United States suggests that environmental risk factors growing in prominence are at play. New research adds to a growing body of evidence that the risk is conferred well before affected children show symptoms, such as impairments in communication and social interaction -- during pregnancy."

Asperger syndrome - Google Books

2011-01-10T09:17:00.000-08:00

Asperger syndrome - Google Books: "Asperger syndrome By Ami Klin"

Freaks, geeks and Asperger syndrome ... - Google Books

2011-01-10T09:15:00.000-08:00

Freaks, geeks and Asperger syndrome ... - Google Books: "Freaks, geeks and Asperger syndrome: a user guide to adolescence By Luke Jackson"

Written by a young man with Aspergers

SpringerLink - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Volume 38, Number 10

2011-01-10T09:14:00.001-08:00

SpringerLink - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Volume 38, Number 10: "LEGO® therapy and the Social Use of Language Programme (SULP) were evaluated as social skills interventions for 6–11 year olds with high functioning autism and Asperger Syndrome. Children were matched on CA, IQ, and autistic symptoms before being randomly assigned to LEGO or SULP. Therapy occurred for 1 h/week over 18 weeks. A no-intervention control group was also assessed. Results showed that the LEGO therapy group improved more than the other groups on autism-specific social interaction scores (Gilliam Autism Rating Scale). Maladaptive behaviour decreased significantly more in the LEGO and SULP groups compared to the control group. There was a non-significant trend for SULP and LEGO groups to improve more than the no-intervention group in communication and socialisation skills."

Promoting social behavior with oxytocin in high-functioning autism spectrum disorders — PNAS

2011-01-10T09:14:00.000-08:00

Promoting social behavior with oxytocin in high-functioning autism spectrum disorders — PNAS: "Social adaptation requires specific cognitive and emotional competences. Individuals with high-functioning autism or with Asperger syndrome cannot understand or engage in social situations despite preserved intellectual abilities. Recently, it has been suggested that oxytocin, a hormone known to promote mother-infant bonds, may be implicated in the social deficit of autism. We investigated the behavioral effects of oxytocin in 13 subjects with autism. In a simulated ball game where participants interacted with fictitious partners, we found that after oxytocin inhalation, patients exhibited stronger interactions with the most socially cooperative partner and reported enhanced feelings of trust and preference. Also, during free viewing of pictures of faces, oxytocin selectively increased patients’ gazing time on the socially informative region of the face, namely the eyes. Thus, under oxytocin, patients respond more strongly to others and exhibit more appropriate social behavior and affect, suggesting a therapeutic potential of oxytocin through its action on a core dimension of autism."

The relationship between executive functioning, central coherence, and repetitive behaviors in the high-functioning autism spectrum — Autism

2011-01-10T09:13:00.000-08:00

The relationship between executive functioning, central coherence, and repetitive behaviors in the high-functioning autism spectrum — Autism: "This study examined the relationship between everyday repetitive behavior (primary symptoms of autism) and performance on neuropsychological tests of executive function and central coherence (secondary symptoms). It was hypothesized that the frequency and intensity of repetitive behavior would be positively correlated with laboratory measures of cognitive rigidity and weak central coherence. Participants included 19 individuals (ages 10—19) with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders (ASD group) and 18 age- and IQ-matched typically developing controls (TD group). There was partial support in the ASD group for the link between repetitive behavior and executive performance (the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task). There was no support for a link between repetitive behavior and measures of central coherence (a Gestalt Closure test and the Embedded Figures Test). Further research on repetitive behaviors in autism may benefit from a focus on narrow behavioral and cognitive constructs rather than general categories."

SpringerLink - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Volume 37, Number 5

2011-01-10T09:12:00.001-08:00

SpringerLink - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Volume 37, Number 5: "Abstract
Altered visual exploration of faces likely contributes to social cognition deficits seen in autism. To investigate the relationship between face gaze and social cognition in autism, we measured both face gaze and how facial regions were actually used during emotion judgments from faces. Compared to IQ-matched healthy controls, nine high-functioning adults with autism failed to make use of information from the eye region of faces, instead relying primarily on information from the mouth. Face gaze accounted for the increased reliance on the mouth, and partially accounted for the deficit in using information from the eyes. These findings provide a novel quantitative assessment of how people with autism utilize information in faces when making social judgments."

The Complete Guide to Asperger's ... - Google Books

2011-01-10T09:12:00.000-08:00

The Complete Guide to Asperger's ... - Google Books: "The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome By Tony Attwood"

A cognitive behaviour therapy intervention for anxiety in children with Asperger's syndrome - UQ eSpace

2011-01-10T09:11:00.000-08:00

A cognitive behaviour therapy intervention for anxiety in children with Asperger's syndrome - UQ eSpace: "A cognitive behaviour therapy intervention for anxiety in children with Asperger's syndrome"

Asperger Syndrome Guide

2011-01-10T09:09:00.000-08:00

Asperger Syndrome Guide: "Definition
Asperger syndrome is often considered a high functioning form of autism. People with this syndrome have difficulty interacting socially, repeat behaviors, and often are clumsy. Motor milestones may be delayed.
Alternative Names
Pervasive developmental disorder - Asperger syndrome; Autistic spectrum disorder - Asperger"

Asperger's Syndrome-Symptoms

2011-01-10T09:07:00.000-08:00

Asperger's Syndrome-Symptoms: "Although there are many possible symptoms of Asperger’s syndrome, the main symptom is severe trouble with social situations. Your child may have mild to severe symptoms or have a few or many of these symptoms. Because of the wide variety of symptoms, no two children with Asperger's are alike."

Health Buzz: Autism Study Was an 'Elaborate Fraud' - US News and World Report

2011-01-06T12:00:00.000-08:00

Health Buzz: Autism Study Was an 'Elaborate Fraud' - US News and World Report: "A British doctor committed an 'elaborate fraud' by faking data in a since-retracted 1998 study that linked autism to childhood vaccines. That's according to a report published Wednesday by the British Medical Journal that accuses Andrew Wakefield of misrepresenting or altering the medical histories of the 12 children he studied. Published in the journal Lancet, Wakefield's study, which linked the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine to autism, prompted thousands of parents to skip the shot. Some experts say immunization rates have never fully recovered. Reported U.S. measles cases hit a 12-year peak at 140 in 2008, and the majority of sick children were unvaccinated, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."

Joint attention training for children with autism using behavior modification procedures

2010-12-27T17:24:00.000-08:00

Please click the link in order to read the article.
http://www.thelearninglane.com/documents/jointattention4.pdf

First Do No Harm: Alternative Medicine Can Be Lethal to Kids

2010-12-27T17:20:00.000-08:00

First Do No Harm: Alternative Medicine Can Be Lethal to Kids: "'Natural' remedies may seem a lot safer to give a child than some medication with a mysterious, multisyllabic name with a lot of x's and y's. But a just-published study has found that complementary and alternative medicine treatments can be dangerous and even fatal to children."

Children with autism and their friends: a multidim... [J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2008] - PubMed result

2010-12-23T17:45:00.000-08:00

Children with autism and their friends: a multidim... [J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2008] - PubMed result: "This study of Israeli and American preadolescent children examined characteristics of friendship in 44 children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HFASD) compared to 38 typically developing children (TYP), as they interacted with a close friend Participants were 8-12 years of age (HFASD: Israel, n = 24; USA, n = 20; TYP: Israel, n = 23; USA, n = 15), and were matched on SES, receptive language vocabulary, child age, and gender (each study group included one girl). Multidimensional assessments included: individual behaviors of target children and observed child-friend interactions during construction and drawing scenarios; target child's and friend's self-perceived mutual friendship qualities; and mother-reported characteristics (friendship's duration/frequency; friend's age/gender/disability status). Overall, children with HFASD displayed a number of differences on individual and dyadic friendship measures. Both age and verbal abilities affected friendship behaviors. Children with HFASD and their friends perceived friendship qualities similarly, suggesting that preadolescents with HFASD have capacities for interpersonal awareness. Between-group similarities also emerged on several complex social behaviors, suggesting that friendship follows a developmental trajectory in autism and may enhance social interaction skills in autism."

A social adjustment enhancement intervention for h... [J Autism Dev Disord. 2004] - PubMed result

2010-12-23T17:44:00.001-08:00

A social adjustment enhancement intervention for h... [J Autism Dev Disord. 2004] - PubMed result: "This paper reports the findings of a 20-week social adjustment enhancement curriculum for boys aged 8-12. The curriculum was designed to address three areas hypothesized to be deficient in persons with HFA, AS, and PDDNOS: emotion recognition and understanding; theory of mind; and executive functions/real life type problem solving. Parents attended a semi-structured concurrent psychoeducational training meeting during children's sessions. Statistically significant improvements in facial expression recognition, and problem solving were reported for intervention group children compared to waiting list control group children. For the intervention group (the only group for whom data were available), older and less cognitively able boy's scores on a depression inventory decreased significantly more than younger children's. Mother's depression scores tended to decrease and there were significant reductions in child problem behaviors reported. Results are discussed in the context of individual differences in participant cognitive levels and profiles, symptom severity, and affect-related variables."

The effectiveness of parent-child interaction ther... [J Autism Dev Disord. 2008] - PubMed result

2010-12-23T17:44:00.000-08:00

The effectiveness of parent-child interaction ther... [J Autism Dev Disord. 2008] - PubMed result: "We report the results of a pilot trial of an evidence-based treatment-Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT; Eyberg et al. Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 31(1), 83-91, 1995) for boys aged 5-12 with high functioning autism spectrum disorders and clinically significant behavioral problems. The study also included an investigation of the role of shared positive affect during the course of therapy on child and parent outcomes. The intervention group showed reductions in parent perceptions of child problem behaviors and child atypicality, as well as an increase in child adaptability. Shared positive affect in parent child dyads and parent positive affect increased between the initial and final phases of the therapy. Parent positive affect after the first phase was related to perceptions of improvement in problem behaviors and adaptive functioning."

Autism Teaching Tools: Play and Language Therapy

2010-12-23T17:43:00.001-08:00

Engage With Your Child with Autism

2010-12-23T17:42:00.001-08:00

Parent Child Interaction Video Dr. Solomon

2010-12-23T17:41:00.000-08:00

Videos By Topic

2010-12-23T17:37:00.000-08:00

Videos By Topic: "Videos and audio are now exclusively available in the new UC Davis MIND Institute Media Player. Adobe Flash and Javascript are needed to play back all media on the MIND Institute website. Chances are that Flash and Javascript are already a part of your browser as they are installed on almost all computers connected to the Internet. However, if you are having difficulty playing any media on this site, Adobe Flash can be downloaded from Adobe's website and instructions for enabling Javascript in your browser are available here."

Excellent video presentations regarding research and treatment.

Parent Training for Young Children With Developmental Disabilities: Randomized Controlled Trial

2010-12-17T15:57:00.000-08:00

Parent Training for Young Children With Developmental Disabilities: Randomized Controlled Trial: "A randomized controlled trial was used to evaluate a parent training intervention for caregivers with preschool-age children with developmental disabilities. The 21 families in the experimental group received usual care plus the 12-week Incredible Years Parent Training Program with developmental delay modifications. Families in the control group (n = 23) received usual care, including early childhood education and related services. Results suggest that this parent training intervention was superior to usual care for young children with developmental delays or disabilities in reducing negative parent–child interactions and child behavior problems. Participants in the experimental group indicated high satisfaction with treatment. Additional research is necessary to document maintenance and generalization of treatment outcomes."

Autism Speaks, Press Updates, Early Intervention For Toddlers With Autism Highly Effective, Study Finds

2010-12-17T15:53:00.000-08:00

Autism Speaks, Press Updates, Early Intervention For Toddlers With Autism Highly Effective, Study Finds: "'This is the first controlled study of an intensive early intervention that is appropriate for children with autism who are less than 2½ years of age. Given that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all 18- and 24-month-old children be screened for autism, it is crucial that we can offer parents effective therapies for children in this age range,' said Geraldine Dawson, Ph.D., chief science officer of Autism Speaks and the study's lead author. 'By starting as soon as the toddler is diagnosed, we hope to maximize the positive impact of the intervention.'"

Parent implemented early intervention for young children with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review - McConachie - 2006 - Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice - Wiley Online Library

2010-12-17T15:40:00.000-08:00

Parent implemented early intervention for young children with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review - McConachie - 2006 - Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice - Wiley Online Library: "The review found very few studies that had adequate research design from which to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of parent-implemented early intervention. Both randomized and controlled studies tended to suggest that parent training leads to improved child communicative behaviour, increased maternal knowledge of autism, enhanced maternal communication style and parent child interaction, and reduced maternal depression."

Study finds link between autism, air pollutants - San Jose Mercury News

2010-12-17T15:36:00.000-08:00

Study finds link between autism, air pollutants - San Jose Mercury News: "Researchers have found that children who live near freeways at birth have twice the risk of autism, suggesting that environmental factors may play a role in the disorder's growing incidence.
A study by researchers at the Saban Research Institute of Children's Hospital Los Angeles found that babies who lived within 1,000 feet of a freeway, but not a major road, were at risk.
Lead researcher Helen Volk says that may be due to the type and high level of pollutants on a freeway.
The study, published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, looked at 304 children with autism and 259 normally developing children."

How a gene mutation leads to autism

2010-12-17T15:34:00.000-08:00

How a gene mutation leads to autism: "Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have developed a mouse model to find how a gene mutation leads to autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).
They found that when one copy of the SHANK3 gene in mice is missing, nerve cells do not effectively communicate and do not show cellular properties associated with normal learning."

Clinical Trial For Rett Syndrome Launched -- BOSTON, Dec. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

2010-12-17T15:33:00.000-08:00

Clinical Trial For Rett Syndrome Launched -- BOSTON, Dec. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --: "Researchers at Children's Hospital Boston have begun a randomized, placebo-controlled trial to test a potential drug treatment for Rett syndrome, the leading known genetic cause of autism in girls. The drug, mecasermin, a synthetic form of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), is already FDA-approved for children with short stature due to IGF-1 deficiency.
The trial, now enrolling patients, marks the beginning of a trend toward drug treatments seeking to modify the underlying causes of autism spectrum disorders, rather than just behavioral symptoms such as anxiety or aggression. It follows research in animal models, published in 2009(1), which suggested that raising IGF-1 levels can reverse features of Rett syndrome by enhancing maturation of synapses —the points of communication between brain cells."

Management of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders -- Myers et al. 120 (5): 1162 -- AAP Policy

2010-12-16T16:37:00.000-08:00

Management of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders -- Myers et al. 120 (5): 1162 -- AAP Policy: "Pediatricians have an important role not only in early recognition and evaluation of autism spectrum disorders but also in chronic management of these disorders. The primary goals of treatment are to maximize the child's ultimate functional independence and quality of life by minimizing the core autism spectrum disorder features, facilitating development and learning, promoting socialization, reducing maladaptive behaviors, and educating and supporting families. To assist pediatricians in educating families and guiding them toward empirically supported interventions for their children, this report reviews the educational strategies and associated therapies that are the primary treatments for children with autism spectrum disorders. Optimization of health care is likely to have a positive effect on habilitative progress, functional outcome, and quality of life; therefore, important issues, such as management of associated medical problems, pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic intervention for challenging behaviors or coexisting mental health conditions, and use of complementary and alternative medical treatments, are also addressed."

SpringerLink - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Volume 40, Number 1

2010-12-16T16:23:00.000-08:00

SpringerLink - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Volume 40, Number 1: "The authors analyzed the results of a social validation survey to determine if autism service providers including special education teachers, parents, and administrators demonstrate a preference for the intervention components of Applied Behavior Analysis or Training and Education of Autistic and other Communication Handicapped Children. They also investigated the comprehensiveness of these treatment models for use in public school programs. The findings indicate no clear preference for either model, but a significantly higher level of social validity for components inherent in both approaches. The authors discuss the need for research to define what is meant by comprehensive programming in autism."

Early Intervention Improves Autism Symptoms

2010-12-09T16:17:00.000-08:00

Early Intervention Improves Autism Symptoms: "Dec. 8, 2010 -- A six-month, group-based early intervention program with a special emphasis on social development can improve some of the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder in children as young as 2, according to a study in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.
“This and other autism studies suggest that the ‘wait and see’ method, which is often recommended to concerned parents, could lead to missed opportunities for early intervention,” Rebecca Landa, PhD, director of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders and the REACH research program at Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, says in a news release. “By acting early, we are providing toddlers tools and skills to increase social opportunities throughout their lifetime and positioning them to have the best possible outcomes.”"

Targeted intervention improves social skills in toddlers with autism

2010-12-09T16:15:00.000-08:00

Targeted intervention improves social skills in toddlers with autism: "In a new study, researchers found that targeting the core social deficits of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in early intervention programs yielded sustained improvements in social and communication skills even in very young children who have ASD.
Although some research suggests that ASD may be reliably diagnosed earlier than the current average age of 3 years, few interventions have been tested in children younger than 3."

Cell Energy Dysfunction Seen in Autism | Psych Central News

2010-12-08T11:23:00.000-08:00

Cell Energy Dysfunction Seen in Autism Psych Central News: "Autism in children is strongly associated with defects in the mitochondria, the cell’s energy producer, according to a UC Davis study. Researchers believe that built-up damage and oxidative stress in mitochondria may perpetuate the development of autism as well as the severity of the disorder"

VOA | US Scientists Developing Autism Test | Health | English

2010-12-06T11:03:00.000-08:00

VOA US Scientists Developing Autism Test Health English: "American scientists think they have developed a test – using MRI brain scans – that can determine whether someone has autism.

Up until now, there has been no clear biological test to objectively conclude if someone has autism. Doctors currently diagnose autism, usually in children, by observing behavior and interactions with others."

Now, a simple test to detect autism in minutes!

2010-12-06T11:02:00.000-08:00

Now, a simple test to detect autism in minutes!: "Now, a simple test that can detect autism in just 10 minutes, say scientists.
A team from the Harvard University-affiliated McLean Hospital and University of Utah has devised the revolutionary test which it claims not only takes just 10 minutes but also costs 100 pounds.
According to the scientists, using MRI scans to measure deviations in brain circuits, the test can detect high-functioning autism with 94 per cent accuracy.
The test could be available in hospitals in five years, replacing a series of checks carried out by psychologists and psychiatrists, which rely on subjective opinions only, the 'Daily Express' reported."

Children With Autism Appear More Likely To Have Cell Irregularity

2010-12-06T10:56:00.000-08:00

Children With Autism Appear More Likely To Have Cell Irregularity: "Preliminary research has found that children with autism are more likely to have impaired mitochondrial function (structures within cells responsible for energy production) and mitochondrial DNA abnormalities than typically developing children, according to a study in the December 1 issue of JAMA"

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med -- Abstract: Maternal and Paternal Age and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders, April 2007, Croen et al. 161 (4): 334

2010-12-01T13:37:00.000-08:00

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med -- Abstract: Maternal and Paternal Age and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders, April 2007, Croen et al. 161 (4): 334: "Risk of ASDs increased significantly with each 10-year increase in maternal age (adjusted RR, 1.31; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-1.62) and paternal age (RR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.09-1.51). Adjusted RRs for both maternal and paternal age were elevated for children with autistic disorder (maternal age: RR, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.87-1.60; paternal age: RR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.06-1.69) and children with Asperger disorder or pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (maternal age: RR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.09-1.93; paternal age: RR, 1.24; 95% CI, 0.99-1.55). Associations with parental age were somewhat stronger for girls than for boys, although sex differences were not statistically significant."

Arch Gen Psychiatry -- Abstract: Advancing Paternal Age and Autism, September 2006, Reichenberg et al. 63 (9): 1026

2010-12-01T13:36:00.000-08:00

Arch Gen Psychiatry -- Abstract: Advancing Paternal Age and Autism, September 2006, Reichenberg et al. 63 (9): 1026: "There was a significant monotonic association between advancing paternal age and risk of ASD. Offspring of men 40 years or older were 5.75 times (95% confidence interval, 2.65-12.46; P<.001) more likely to have ASD compared with offspring of men younger than 30 years, after controlling for year of birth, socioeconomic status, and maternal age. Advancing maternal age showed no association with ASD after adjusting for paternal age. Sensitivity analyses indicated that these findings were not the result of bias due to missing data on maternal age."

PINNACLE - Behavior Problems of Children With Autism, Parental Self-Efficacy, and Mental Health

2010-12-01T12:19:00.000-08:00

PINNACLE - Behavior Problems of Children With Autism, Parental Self-Efficacy, and Mental Health: "Self-efficacy has been identified in the general parenting literature as an important variable affecting parent outcomes. In the present study, 26 mothers and 20 fathers of children with autism reported on their self-efficacy, anxiety, and depression. Teachers rated the behavior problems of the children. Regression analyses showed that self-efficacy mediated the effect of child behavior problems on mothers' anxiety and depression, but there was no evidence that it functioned as a mediator for fathers. However, there was evidence that self-efficacy moderated the effect of child behavior problems on fathers' anxiety. No evidence for the moderating effect of self-efficacy was apparent for mothers. Methodological issues and the theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed."

New drug to treat autism being tested at New Brunswick hospital | mycentraljersey.com | MyCentralJersey.com

2010-11-24T16:55:00.000-08:00

New drug to treat autism being tested at New Brunswick hospital mycentraljersey.com MyCentralJersey.com: "'We are targeting the symptoms of autism,' said Dr. Joan Fallon, founder of Curemark LLC., a drug-research and development company located in Rye, N.Y. The company is testing its new product at 13 locations nationwide.The testing being conducted at Saint Peter's involves 170 youngsters, hospital spokesman Phil Hartman said.Fallon said the test pool covers children age 3 to 8. She said she expects results 'sometime early next year.'"

Opposing Views: Does Attachment Parenting Cause Autism?

2010-11-24T16:16:00.000-08:00

Opposing Views: Does Attachment Parenting Cause Autism?: "It is perhaps the ultimate irony that advocates of attachment parenting who reject vaccination because of fear of autism have ignored the possibility that it is attachment parenting itself that causes autism.

Consider the ever growing body of evidence:"

Horses becoming a more common therapeutic tool | Dothan Eagle

2010-11-21T11:42:00.000-08:00

Horses becoming a more common therapeutic tool Dothan Eagle: "After David Paul Harper gets a boost onto Trigger, one of the therapy horses at Camp DD in Cottonwood, he asks a simple question.

“How do you start it?”

With a chuckle, Camp Director Dina Bright tells David to put a quarter in it. All kidding aside, Bright then begins a series of instructions for David and another camp visitor who will be leading Trigger around the round pen as David rides."

New autism drug tested at New Brunswick hospital | APP.com | Asbury Park Press

2010-11-19T13:31:00.000-08:00

New autism drug tested at New Brunswick hospital APP.com Asbury Park Press: "'We are targeting the symptoms of autism,' said Dr. Joan Fallon, founder of Curemark LLC, a drug-research and development company located in Rye, N.Y. The company is testing its new product at 13 locations nationwide.
The testing being conducted at Saint Peter's involves 170 youngsters, hospital spokesman Phil Hartman said.
Fallon said the test pool covers children age 3 to 8. She said she expects results 'sometime early next year.'"

KOMU.com - NewsFullStory

2010-11-19T13:29:00.000-08:00

KOMU.com - NewsFullStory: "COLUMBIA - University of Missouri College of Education researchers announced Thursday a new autism curriculum being implemented in two Columbia schools. Researchers are conducting their curriculum in both Lange Middle School and West Junior High. The study is targeting both autistic boys and girls ages eleven to fourteen years old. Janine Stichter, special education professor at MU, said the new intervention curriculum will help autistic students because it focuses on a broad number of social issues that should appeal to kids with different abilities. 'In the past people have said 'oh they have social deficits. We can just use a social skills program in general and hopefully a bunch of that will fit a bunch of kids. Our approach has been to really target the intervention for their specific needs,' Stichter said. The new curriculum also features some computer programming that Stichter hopes will help students in rural areas get the special help they need."

Distinctive brain activity in autistic kids - World - Mail & Guardian Online

2010-11-19T13:28:00.000-08:00

Distinctive brain activity in autistic kids - World - Mail & Guardian Online: "The pattern of brain activity in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is markedly different from that of children without the condition, according to a new brain-imaging study."

Study Reveals Children Recover From Autism With Intensive Three-Year Behavioral Therapy -- PHOENIX, Nov. 12, 2010 /PRNewswire/ --

2010-11-13T09:44:00.000-08:00

Study Reveals Children Recover From Autism With Intensive Three-Year Behavioral Therapy -- PHOENIX, Nov. 12, 2010 /PRNewswire/ --: "A landmark study proves that children are capable of recovery from autism, or of making substantial gains in cognitive and adaptive functioning, as well as language skills, according to results released last night by Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh, founder of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD)."

Testing Autism Drugs in Human Brain Cells - Technology Review

2010-11-11T13:11:00.000-08:00

Testing Autism Drugs in Human Brain Cells - Technology Review: "A team from the University of California, San Diego, and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies devised a way to study brain cells from patients with autism, and found a way reverse cellular abnormalities in neurons that have been associated with autism.
The researchers took skin biopsies from patients with a severe form of autism called Rett syndrome, and genetically reprogrammed those cells into pluripotent stem cells. Pluripotent stem cells have the power to differentiate into any kind of cell in the body, depending on environmental cues during early development. The team differentiated the stem cells into fully functioning neurons, and then studied their functioning. They found that neurons derived from patients with Rett syndrome showed certain abnormalities, including markedly smaller cell bodies, dendrite connections, and decreased cell-to-cell communication."

Bracelet may help communication for people with autism | Marketplace From American Public Media

2010-11-09T10:57:00.000-08:00

Bracelet may help communication for people with autism Marketplace From American Public Media: "For people with autism, communication can be a struggle, one that can seem insurmountable. But a team of researchers at MIT may have come up with a fairly simple solution: a bracelet. The Q Sensor wristband can provide a window into how the wearer is feeling at a given time."

DNA Variation Increases Autism and Schizophrenia Risk | Chromosome 17, DNA & Genetics | My Health News Daily

2010-11-08T18:03:00.000-08:00

DNA Variation Increases Autism and Schizophrenia Risk Chromosome 17, DNA & Genetics My Health News Daily: "People who possess a specific change in one of their chromosomes are nearly 14 times more likely to develop an autism spectrum disorder or schizophrenia than those without this change, according to a new study.
The change, which is called a deletion, happens when a section of chromosome 17 is missing. The deletion is found only in people who have an autism spectrum disorder, a developmental delay or schizophrenia, said study researcher David H. Ledbetter, a genetics professor at Emory University."

Community Magazine

2010-11-03T09:17:00.000-07:00

Community Magazine: "Infants exposed to the highest levels of thimerosal, a mercury-laden preservative that used to be found in many vaccines, were no more likely to develop autism than infants exposed to small amounts, according to a study conducted by the immunization safety office at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and published in the journal Pediatrics. Thimerosal has been used as a preservative in vaccines since the 1930s. In the last decade, scientists have also presented evidence refuting an earlier claim that the MMR (mumps, measles, rubella) vaccine might trigger autism. In the wake of the latest study, Geraldine Dawson, chief science officer for a leading advocacy group, Autism Speaks, urged parents to have their children vaccinated."

Autism – Detected By A Simple Urine Test

2010-11-02T11:49:00.000-07:00

Autism – Detected By A Simple Urine Test: "The test is similar to that of pregnancy can diagnose with a few drops of urine, write DailyMail. Such psychological tests and numerous visits to hospital, although necessary for diagnosis, can have a traumatic effect on children. Besides this benefit, the new method means starting treatment earlier, increasing chances of a life closer to normal for the child."

Acupuncture Helps Children with Autism - New Research

2010-11-01T17:02:00.000-07:00

Acupuncture Helps Children with Autism - New Research: "New research demonstrates that a session of 12 acupuncture visits using electro-acupuncture improves functions in children with autism. Electro-acupuncture caused improvements in language comprehension and self-care ability for the children in this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, clinical trial of acupuncture for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Electro-acupuncture also caused significant improvements in social initiation, receptive language, motor skills, coordination, and attention span. Improvements in motor coordination include better writing ability. Participants were better able to write words within set lines and squares. One participant had significant improvements in swimming ability and improvements in paper cutting were also noted. Interesting motor improvements include better walking posture, speed of walking, and ability to ascend and descend stairs."

Can pets help keep you healthy? - Sleepy Eye, MN - The Sleepy Eye Herald Dispatch

2010-11-01T16:29:00.000-07:00

Can pets help keep you healthy? - Sleepy Eye, MN - The Sleepy Eye Herald Dispatch: "People have lots of reasons for owning pets. A small but growing body of research suggests that owning or interacting with animals may have the added benefit of improving your health.
People and animals have a long history of living together and bonding. Perhaps the oldest evidence of this special relationship was discovered in Israel where a 12,000-year-old human skeleton was buried with its hand resting on the skeleton of a 6-month-old wolf pup."

Autism vs. pervasive developmental disorder - The Clinical Advisor

2010-10-30T11:01:00.000-07:00

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"