This study examined the relationship between maternal childhood abuse and autism in children in a large population-based sample. Maternal abuse was significantly associated with increased autism risk even after researchers controlled for perinatal risk factors, including gestational diabetes, smoking during pregnancy, preeclampsia, exposure to intimate partner violence and premature birth.
This report presents data on the prevalence of diagnosed autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as reported by parents of school-aged children (ages 6–17 years) in 2011–2012. Results suggest 1 in 50 U.S. children is diagnosed with ASD based on parent report.
Scoring Goals for Autism is an annual soccer tournament fundraiser that benefits the Autism Science Foundation. This year it will take place at YSC Sports in Wayne, PA on Sunday, May 5th, 2013. This one of a kind indoor soccer tournament offers competitive team play for adult players as well as a TOPSoccer skills and drills clinic for children and adolescents with disabilities including autism.
Scoring Goals for Autism founders Erin Lopes and Tim Bak are parents of a 14-year-old son with autism and epilepsy. The mission of Scoring Goals for Autism is to bring the beautiful game of soccer to all athletes and to raise much-needed dollars for autism research.
All proceeds from Scoring Goals for Autism benefit the Autism Science Foundation.
Emergency room visits for children with ASD are more likely to be for psychiatric reasons than visits from typically developing children. Having private insurance increases the risk of a psychiatric ER visit for children with ASD, possibly due to the exclusion of ASD as a coverable diagnosis among many private insurance plans.
In effort to stimulate more research to better understand ASD trends, ASF President Alison Singer and other stakeholders discuss the increase in ASD prevalence and share their knowledge and opinions.
An estimated 32-92% of parents use complementary/alternative treatments for their children with ASD despite the lack of scientific evidence for the efficacy of these methods. In this article, researchers issue a call for a standardized way to select and evaluate treatments. Barriers to successful treatment, including high costs, limited availability, parental compliance and poor recommendations from professionals are discussed.
The prevalence of physical aggression was 53% across a sample of nearly 1600 children and adolescents with ASD. Girls and boys were equally likely to display aggressive behaviors. The researchers suggest sleep problems, self-injury and sensory problems may increase risk for physical aggression, and argue for better identification and treatment of these conditions.
"If passed, Ava's Law would require insurance companies to pay for "evidence-driven treatment" -- or treatment that's been scientifically shown to help kids with an autism spectrum disorder. The law would not affect the self-insured plans offered by bigger companies, which cover about 60% of insured people in the state, according to the Georgia Office of Insurance."
