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

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

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

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

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

Download a free PDF version of the parent manual.

Study compares traits of autism, schizophrenia

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

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

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

Training parents is good medicine for children with autism behavior problems

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

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

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

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

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

Autism linked to other disorders - USATODAY.com

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

'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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Click on the link below for scholarly articles.

Click here

Airway abnormality may point to autism - USATODAY.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

'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?

"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

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

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/ --

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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