A new questionnaire assesses the frequency and severity of various behaviors in children with autism and could help scientists determine the effectiveness of behavioral therapies1. Diagnostic tests for autism generally rule the condition in or out. When tests offer separate ratings for behaviors such as poor social skills or communication difficulties, the purpose is…
Read more
Scientists, including one of Indian-origin, have identified a gene that is responsible for neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism, an advance that may pave the way for developing treatments. The findings showed that alterations of the gene thousand and one amino-acid kinase 2, known as TAOK2, plays a direct role in these disorders. TAOK2 is located in…
Read more
Autism is a developmental disorder that not only alters the social behavior of a person but also causes a wide range of other behavioral complexities. Other behavioral complexities include but are not limited to, repetitive and monotonous behaviors, speech disturbances, anxiety, and difficulties in adapting to new environments. At times, diagnosis is seen to take…
Read more
Greater mean penetration depth of prenatal ultrasound was associated with increased incidences of autism spectrum disorder and developmental delay, according to findings from a study published in JAMA Pediatrics. Gestational age, total time of exposure, mean depth, frame rate, and total time using 3-dimensional and 4-dimensional imaging were obtained from medical records for patients with autism spectrum disorder…
Read more
WASHINGTON (AP) — There is no Harvard study that says a British children’s television cartoon causes autism, despite what a social media post claims. In fact, there’s at least one peer-reviewed study that hints that a children’s television show may help autistic kids. The post on the news site and others that have circulated in…
Read more
The boy was an odd one, that was something his family could agree about. When he was born, the back of his head was enormous. His grandmother thought he was just fat, but his parents were worried it was a sign of some problem. But within a few weeks, he’d managed to grow into…
Read more
Introduction Dogs can help with a variety of illnesses, anxiety disorders, depression, and now dogs are believed to help with children who have autism as well. Having a pet in the house can provide much-needed companionship and love that children with autism need. However, it is important to keep in mind that all children…
Read more
Reading time: 10 min New research at Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science suggests that people on the autism spectrum have different – and even opposite – reactions to almost imperceptible odors produced by the human body. This altered sense of smell may be as significant as vision in the person’s difficulty interpreting nonverbal social cues.…
Read more
The rate of autism spectrum disorder has risen dramatically over the past several decades. Now, much of that rise has been attributed to an increased recognition and diagnosis of the syndrome, but most experts believe some environmental factor is contributing. While we don’t have a great idea of what that factor is, we’re getting more confident in…
Read more
In a new study, researchers set out to investigate why children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) tend to be less socially communicative than their typically developing (TD) peers. Their findings, published in the journal Molecular Autism, provide a glimpse into the brain mechanisms behind autism. In recent years, scientists have proposed several hypotheses to help explain why ASD…
Read more
