When looking at autism, there is still so very much to learn and understand. One of the most interesting, and often best method, in reaching that better understanding is through identical twins. With the exact same DNA, they offer an interesting look at how and why autism occurs, and what, if anything, can be done about it.
No two autistic children are exactly alike, and as such, no two children will display exactly the same behaviors and deficits in exactly the same way. That broad range of behaviors and deficits can make an early diagnosis difficult.
Face recognition, one of the many essential components to effective social communication, is an area in which many autistic individuals have deficits. Like autism itself, the deficit can range anywhere from mild to severe. Autistic individuals may be unable to distinguish the differences between faces of specific individuals, facial expressions, or both.
How far would you go to diminish your child’s disruptive autism symptoms like repetitive behaviors and aggression? Would you give them a pill filled with worm eggs? One family did just that, and because they saw improvement in their child’s condition, one professor is planning to create a study on it.
No one really knows exactly causes autism – a neuropsychological disorder characterized by repetitive behaviors and deficits in social interactions, communication and language. However, science continues to learn more about this perplexing condition, how it works and how to improve the outcome for those affected. But what if children could grow out of it? A new study says it’s possible, but those of us who are parents to autistic children may not be so convinced.
Little is known about Adam Lanza, the 20-year-old man identified as the gunman in the Connecticut school shooting. Law enforcement officials do know that Lanza killed his mother and then went to the school where he killed 20 children, six adults and himself. One official, who spoke on a condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk about the details of the shooting during the investigation, leaked that Lanza had been diagnosed with Asperger’s.
Approximately 1 in 88 children are diagnosed with autism today. This neurological condition is classified by repetitive movements and deficits in social interaction and communication. Research has indicated that earlier interventions may be helpful in reducing those deficits but the condition is extremely hard to diagnose before age two.
If you’re the parent of a child on the Autism Spectrum, you’ve likely noticed a special gift that your child has. Maybe they’re really good with numbers, fascinated with angles or reptiles, or maybe the words “musically inclined” don’t come close to describing your child.
Just this week, a panel of physicians called for more research into early intervention therapy, saying that there is only a moderate amount of evidence to support the efficacy of early intervention for autistic children. Almost as if they’re responding to the call, the Yale School of Medicine Researchers published a new study in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders on the brain changes that occur during early intervention therapy.
In the United States alone, it is estimated that between 500,000 and 673,000 children have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder; it is now being considered a potential public health issue.
When parents send their child off to school, they expect them to be treated with dignity, respect and compassion. This is especially true when you have a child with special needs. Unfortunately, a couple in Missouri is learning that it doesn’t always work out that way.
Any child can wander away from their parents, but a report from the Interactive Autism Network found that autistic children are more likely to wander than neurotypical children. This comes as no surprise to some autistic parents, particularly those that have experienced a wandering child first-hand. For others, the news may come as a caution for the future.
Autism is a neurobehavioral disorder – a disorder of the brain that can delay or impair communication skills, social skills and cause repetitive or rigid behaviors. Most cases of the condition are thought to be hereditary. More recently, however, scientists have found links to environmental conditions that may also be responsible for the condition.
