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Research by Topic: Early Intervention
Podcast: Autism diagnosed in school age, and does early intervention make a difference?
Published July 16, 2018On this week’s podcast, highlights of a new systematic review on Early Intense Behavioral Intervention. Thank you to the ASF community for suggesting this topic for the podcast!
Filed under: asf, Autism, Early Intense Behavioral Intervention, Early Intervention, EIBI, featured, podcast, research, review, science
ASF renews grant to expand Baby Sibs research
Published July 2, 2018ASF is proud to announce continued support for the Baby Siblings Research Consortium (BSRC), a network of over 33 research sites around the world studying the younger siblings of people with autism. The Baby Sibs database now tracks over 5,000 younger siblings, with and without autism. The database has been used to develop more sophisticated […]
Filed under: asf, baby siblings, Baby Siblings Research Consortium, Baby Sibs, Behavior, BSRC, collaboration, consortium, early diagnosis, Early Intervention, Family, featured, genes, intervention, research, science, sex difference, Siblings
Podcast: The infant brain on early behavioral intervention
Published March 6, 2017The brain is developing even after birth. So interventions that are given very early have the best chance of remolding and rewiring a brain with autism to prevent autism-related disabilities. This week, a group from the University of London, Duke University, and University of Washington measured brain activity during tasks that required social attention following two […]
Filed under: Autism, biomarker, Early Intervention, featured
A scary Halloween story about the media misrepresenting science
Published October 31, 2016How long do you have to study an intervention to see if it works? Many scientists agree that it isn’t just about what happens in the short run, but if those interventions can be sustained for long periods of time. In the case of very early interventions, it is now clear that treatment for about […]
Filed under: Autism, Early Intervention, featured, interventions, media
Researchers discover genes that might enhance early intervention
Published April 12, 2016The genetics of autism is complicated. So scientists are taking a new approach. Instead of looking at genes associated with the bigger autism diagnosis, researchers at the University of Miami are considering how genes influence specific autism features present very early on in life. In this week’s podcast, two investigators, Devon Gangi and Nicole McDonald, explore […]
Filed under: Autism, baby siblings, discovery, Early Intervention, featured, Genetics, translation
Teacher-Implemented Joint Attention Intervention: Pilot Randomized Controlled Study for Preschoolers with Autism
Published August 8, 2015 in J Consult Clin PsycholThis study investigated the effectiveness of public preschool teachers implementing a validated intervention (the Joint Attention and Symbolic Play/Engagement and Regulation intervention; JASP/ER) on a core deficit of autism, initiating joint attention.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/
Filed under: Autism News, Autism Research, Autism Science, Early Intervention, featured, School-Aged
Longitudinal Follow-Up of Children with Autism Receiving Targeted Interventions on Joint Attention and Play
Published May 8, 2015 in J Am Acad Child Adolesc PsychiatryThis study examines the cognitive and language outcomes of children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) over a 5-year period after receiving targeted early interventions that focused on joint attention and play skills.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/
Filed under: Autism News, Autism Research, Autism Science, Early Intervention
ASF Blog: A Rapidly Moving Field: Recent Findings in Infant and Toddler Interventions for ASD
Published May 7, 2015 in Autism Science FoundationASF Postdoctoral Fellow Jessica Bradshaw answers questions about infants with ASD: How do we know when to intervene? What are the best treatments? And do they work?
Filed under: Applied Behavior Analysis, Autism News, Autism Research, Autism Science, Early Intervention, featured
Group Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Children with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders and Anxiety: A Randomized Trial
Published April 8, 2015 in J Child Psychol PsychiatryFifty children with high-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and anxiety were randomized to group Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CBT) or treatment-as-usual (TAU) for 12 weeks.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22435114
Filed under: Autism News, Autism Research, Autism Science, Cognition, Early Intervention
Making the Connection: Randomized Controlled Trial of Social Skills at School for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Published April 8, 2015 in J Child Psychol PsychiatryThis study compared two interventions for improving the social skills of high functioning children with autism spectrum disorders in general education classrooms. One intervention involved a peer-mediated approach (PEER) and the other involved a child-assisted approach (CHILD).
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/
Filed under: Autism News, Autism Research, Autism Science, Early Intervention, Education, School-Aged
New Publication Clears Up Confusion Around Different Brands of Early Intervention
Published March 4, 2015 in Journal of Autism and Developmental DisordersA new paper brings together a group of autism researchers representing a range of views and diverse disciplines in order to develop a consensus statement regarding the empirical and theoretical bases of Natural Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBI). These are behavioral interventions that utilize applied behavioral analysis (ABA) approaches through naturalistic settings. ABA is oftentimes wrongly equated with a specific method, like discrete trial training rather than being understood as an umbrella of empirically based practices. In NDBIs, the ABA approach is presented in settings such as play and daily routines and use child directed strategies. The goal of this new paper was to describe the influences of both behavioral psychology and developmental science on the evolution of early intervention for ASD and their influence on effective, evidence-based NDBIs. The paper also evaluates various NDBIs available for young children with ASD, examining the historical context in which they have been developed, common characteristics of established, evidence-based NDBIs, and requisite features of NDBIs. Because this type of intervention has a strong research base, the demonstrated efficacy of this type of intervention needs to be shared with the research community and the public sector. It summarizes the work of many researchers, working in parallel in different locations and publishing independently on a wide range of NBDI approaches. The effectiveness of this wide range of approaches may not yet be known to parents, clinicians, physicians and funding agencies. It acknowledges a common nomenclature should be adopted rather than having differently named protocols which may confuse the public, including insurance organizations, health care providers, and parents.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25737021
Filed under: Autism News, Autism Research, Autism Science, Early Intervention, featured
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Preschool-Based Joint Attention Intervention for Children with Autism
Published January 8, 2015 in J Child Psychol PsychiatryAssess the effects of a preschool-based Joint Attention (JA)-intervention.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/
Filed under: Autism News, Autism Research, Autism Science, Early Intervention, School-Aged
Autism Treatment in the First Year of Life: A Pilot Study of Infant Start, a Parent-Implemented Intervention for Symptomatic Infants
Published September 9, 2014 in Journal of Autism and Developmental DisordersA new study conducted by researchers at the University of California Davis MIND Institute and published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders suggests that very early intervention can greatly reduce symptoms of autism as children age. The study looked at a 12-week treatment program with seven infants aged 9 to 15 months; researchers followed the children until they were 3 years old. Over time, these children showed fewer symptoms of autism. Although the sample size was small and it was not a randomized study, this study indicates exciting results from this type of intervention.
Filed under: Autism News, Autism Research, Autism Science, Early Intervention, featured, Infants
Motor Deficits Match Autism Severity
Published June 20, 2014 in Simons Foundation Autism Research InitiativeThe severity of core autism symptoms in young children goes hand in hand with the degree of the childrens difficulty with motor tasks, according to a study published in the April issue of the Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly. Early interventions, such as therapies that target social and communicative behavior, may alter autisms course. Building strong motor skills may help children with autism develop better social and communicative skills, especially in physically demanding play, the researchers say.
Filed under: Autism News, Autism Research, Autism Science, Early Intervention, featured
For Flagging Autism Risk, Using Two Tests is Best Option
Published June 20, 2014 in Simons Foundation Autism Research InitiativeThe average child with autism is 18 months old before his or her parents first begin to be concerned. Given the importance of early intervention, its crucial that parents and doctors both catch on to the symptoms as soon as possible. A study published in European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry finds that two autism screens are better than one at identifying toddlers who need specialized clinical services. These screens, such as the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) and the Early Screening of Autistic Traits (ESAT), are used not to diagnose autism, but rather to identify children who need more specialized attention for example, from a child psychiatrist or a behavioral therapist.
http://sfari.org/news-and-opinion/blog/2014/for-flagging-autism-risk-using-two-tests-is-best-option
Filed under: Autism News, Autism Research, Autism Science, Diagnosis, Early Intervention, featured
Study of Nonverbal Autism Must Go Beyond Words, Experts Say
Published September 2, 2013 in Simons Foundation Autism Research InstituteAbout one fourth of people with autism are minimally verbal or nonverbal. Early intervention programs have been helping children develop language skills, but researchers say that seemingly unrelated issues such as motor skills and joint attention may hold the key to communication development.
Filed under: Autism News, Autism Research, Autism Science, Behavior, Early Intervention, featured, Speech
Ad Campaign Uses New Approach to Promote Early Autism Recognition in African-American and Hispanic Families
Published May 20, 2013 in The New York TimesFiled under: Autism News, Diagnosis, Early Intervention, Family, featured, Mothers, Screening
Special Issue on: School-based Research of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Published May 1, 2013 in AutismFiled under: Autism News, Autism Research, Autism Science, Early Intervention, featured, School-Aged, Social Interaction, Social Skills, Speech, Treatment, Treatments
Preschool Based JASPER Intervention in Minimally Verbal Children with Autism: Pilot RCT
Published May 1, 2013 in Journal of Autism and Developmental DisordersA recent pilot study linked the JASPER intervention (Joint Attention Symbolic Play Engagement and Regulation) to core deficit improvement in minimally verbal 3 to 5 year olds with autism.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22965298
Filed under: Autism Research, Autism Science, Early Intervention, featured, School-Aged, Social Skills, Toddlers
IACC News Update: IACC Recommends Public and Private Health Coverage for Early Behavioral Intervention for Children with ASD
Published March 25, 2013 in IACChttp://iacc.hhs.gov/publications/2013/letter_coverage_032513.pdf
Filed under: Autism News, Early Intervention, featured, Service Delivery
Mothers Fight to Pass Ava’s Law for Autism Coverage
Published March 12, 2013 in CNN“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.”
http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/12/health/autism-insurance-coverage/index.html?hpt=hp_c3
Filed under: Autism News, Autism Science, Early Intervention, featured, Treatment
Use of Social Stories to Improve Self-Regulation in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Published February 26, 2013 in Physical & Occupational Therapy in PediatricsSocial stories, an intervention used to define a skill, concept or situation in socially appropriate terms, were used to promote self-regulation techniques in a self-contained preschool classroom. While implementation of self-regulation strategies varied among the children, all showed an increase in desired behaviors with the intervention.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23437903
Filed under: Autism News, Autism Research, Behavior, Early Intervention, featured, Preschoolers, Social Skills
Beyond Autism: A Baby Siblings Research Consortium Study of High-risk Children at Three Years of Age
Published February 8, 2013 in Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent PsychiatryThis study is the first large-scale examination of ASD behavioral characteristics and developmental functioning in high-risk (HR), non-autistic 3-year-olds with siblings on the spectrum. 79% of HR children were either no different from low-risk children (LR; no known ASD family history) with respect to ASD behavioral severity and developmental functioning, or were developmentally on target with high levels of ASD-related behaviors. 21% of HR children with no ASD diagnosis had an “early manifestation” of a broad autism phenotype: high levels of ASD-related behaviors and/or low levels of verbal and nonverbal functioning. The authors highlight the importance of developmental surveillance and intervention for this HR subset.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23452686
Filed under: Autism Research, Autism Science, Baby Sibs, Behavior, Early Intervention, featured, Infants, Screening, Toddlers
Decreased Spontaneous Attention to Social Scenes in 6-Month-Old Infants Later Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Published January 14, 2013 in Biological PsychiatryYale researchers used eye-tracking technology to examine social monitoring skills of infants at high and low risk for autism. Compared to infants who developed typically, six-month olds later diagnosed with ASD looked less at the social scene, which involved a woman engaged in various activities. When they did attend to the social scene, they spent less time viewing the womans face.
http://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/S0006-3223(12)01030-X/abstract
Filed under: Early Intervention, Eye Tracking, featured, Infants, Screening, Social Skills
The Effects of A Weighted Vest on Aggressive and Self-injurious Behavior in a Child with Autism
Published January 2, 2013 in PubMedResearch finds that despite their frequent use, weighted vests have little effect on managing challenging behaviors in children with autism.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23278839
Filed under: Autism Research, Behavior, Early Intervention, featured
Effectiveness of developmental screening in an urban setting
Published January 1, 2013 in PediatricsThe goal of this study was to determine whether developmental screening could aid identification of developmental delays, early intervention referrals, and eligibility for early intervention. The study concluded that children who received developmental screening tests were identified for developmental delays, early intervention referrals, and early intervention eligibility services in a more timely fashion than those […]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=23248223
Filed under: Autism Research, Autism Science, Early Intervention, IACC Top Papers, Screening
Why Are There So Many Unsubstantiated Treatments in Autism?
Published December 27, 2012 in Research in Autism Spectrum DisordersAn 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.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S175094671200147X
Filed under: Applied Behavior Analysis, Autism Research, Autism Science, Early Intervention, Early Start Denver Model, featured, Parents, Psychopharmacology, Treatment, Treatments
Telehealth for Expanding the Reach of Early Autism Training to Parents
Published December 19, 2012 in Autism Research and TreatmentTelehealth interventions, the delivery of specialized services through communication technologies, may be a viable option for families of young children with ASD who have limited access to intervention services.
http://www.hindawi.com/journals/aurt/2012/121878/
Filed under: Early Intervention, featured
Autism Interventions Supported by Moderate Evidence; Better Studies Needed to Validate Effectiveness
Published November 1, 2012 in RAND CorporationWidely used autism interventions are supported by moderate evidence. Head-to-head trials of competing autism treatments are needed to identify which programs are superior and additional work should follow study participants long-term to further examine the effectiveness of treatments.
http://www.rand.org/news/press/2012/11/01.html
Filed under: Applied Behavior Analysis, Early Intervention, featured, Treatment, Treatments
Autism Developmental Delay Begins After 6 Months of Age
Published October 31, 2012 in Psych CentralA large, prospective study found that children with and without ASD were developmentally similar at 6 months based on clinical tests. Lead author Dr. Rebecca Landa reported, for those children who went on to develop autism, the earliest signs of atypical development were non-specific to autism, such as general communication or motor delay.
Filed under: Early Intervention, featured, Infants, Language, Toddlers
Effects of a Brief Early Start Denver Model (ESDM)-Based Parent Intervention on Toddlers at Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Published October 1, 2012 in Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent PsychiatryContrary to their hypothesis, Sally Rogers and colleagues found that toddlers with ASD in a brief, parent-delivered ESDM program did not make greater gains or show reduced core ASD symptoms compared to autistic toddlers in a community ESDM program. Study strongly suggests number of intervention hours and younger age at initiation are key to maximizing intervention benefits, even for 1 and 2 year olds. Authors say, the wait and see approach to early ASD must be replaced by an act now mentality.
Filed under: Early Intervention, Early Start Denver Model, featured, Parents, Toddlers, Treatment, Treatments
The CDCs Learning Connection Highlights ASD This Month
Published October 1, 2012 in CDCCDC’s October Learning Connection highlights autism and features learning products and resources for healthcare providers and caretakers.
http://www.cdc.gov/learning/spotlight.html
Filed under: Early Intervention, featured, Service Delivery
The Development of Referential Communication and Autism Symptomatology in High-Risk Infants
Published October 1, 2012 in InfancyThis study suggests that non-verbal communication delays in infants with autistic siblings can predict later ASD symptoms.For a Science Daily article on this paper, click here: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121001124802.htm
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1532-7078.2012.00142.x/abstract
Filed under: Baby Sibs, Early Intervention, featured, Screening, Siblings, Social Interaction, Toddlers
Differences in Autism Symptoms Between Minority and Non-Minority Toddlers
Published September 1, 2012 in Journal of Autism and Developmental DisordersResearchers discover gross motor, communication and language score differences between minority and non-minority toddlers with ASD. The authors suggest that due to cultural differences, minority parents may not seek intervention services until more significant delays are present. Methods to improve early identification in these groups are discussed.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22271196
Filed under: Early Intervention, featured, Language, Parents, Toddlers
Early Behavioral Intervention is Associated with Normalized Brain Activity in Young Children with Autism
Published August 31, 2012 in Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent PsychiatryThis randomized trial associated ESDM with normalized brain activity and behavioral improvements in young children with ASD.
http://www.jaacap.com/article/S0890-8567(12)00643-0/abstract
Filed under: Brain Development, Brain Imaging, Early Intervention, Early Start Denver Model, featured, Infants, Social Interaction, Social Skills, Toddlers, Treatment, Treatments
Researchers at Children’s Hospital Boston Identify Brain Activity Patterns Specific to Children with Autism
Published June 26, 2012 in TimeStudy from Children’s Hospital Boston uses EEG to identify specific brain activity patterns in children with autism.
Filed under: Brain Imaging, Diagnosis, Early Intervention, featured, Toddlers
Autism Scientists Search for Help, for Their Own Kids’ Sakes
Published May 22, 2012 in USA TodayThe CDC now reports that 1 in 88 children has an autism spectrum disorder. Yale autism researcher Dr. Kevin Pelphrey is only one of many scientists who have a child with autism.
Autism Scientists Search for Help, for Their Own Kids' Sakes
Filed under: Adults, Early Intervention, featured
Study from Kennedy Krieger Institute Suggests that “Head Lag” Test Might Help Diagnose Autism
Published May 16, 2012 in http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57435717-10391704/simple-head-lag-test-may-help-diagnose-autism-research-suggests/New study by Dr. Rebecca Landa of the Kennedy Krieger Institute suggests that “head lag” test might help diagnose autism.
Filed under: Diagnosis, Early Intervention, featured
Autism science is moving ‘stunningly fast’
Published April 10, 2012 in USA TodayResearchers today also say they’re beginning to make progress, perhaps for the first time, in understanding the autistic brain.
Autism science is moving 'stunningly fast'
Filed under: Diagnosis, Early Intervention, featured, Genetics, Screening, Treatments
What to Make of the New Autism Numbers
Published April 9, 2012 in Time MagazineEvidence shows an increased number of autism diagnoses. There is the possibility that the increase in cases is entirely the result of better detection. Scientists must work to uncover the truth.
Filed under: Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, Early Intervention, featured, Screening
IACC Releases Its 2011 Summary of Advances in Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
Published April 2, 2012 in IACCOn April 2, in honor of the fifth annual World Autism Awareness Day and HHS Autism Awareness Month the IACC has released its annual list of scientific advances that represent significant progress in the field.
IACC Releases Its 2011 Summary of Advances in Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
Filed under: Adults, Baby Sibs, Diagnosis, Early Intervention, featured, Genetics, Screening, Service Delivery, Siblings, Treatments
Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 14 Sites, United States, 2008
Published March 29, 2012 in MMWR (CDC)Full text of today’s CDC report indicating 1 in 88 children is now diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss6103a1.htm?s_cid=ss6103a1_e
Filed under: Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, Early Intervention, featured, Screening, Service Delivery
Newly Published Genetics/Brain Tissue Study Will Help Refine the Search for Specific Early Genetic Markers of Risk of Autism in Babies and Toddlers
Published March 22, 2012 in PLoS GeneticsA new study of autism published today in PLoS Genetics has discovered abnormal gene activity and gene deletions in the same brain region that also has a 67% overabundance of brain cells. This region the prefrontal cortexis involved in social, emotional, communication and language skills. The finding brings new understanding of what early genetic abnormalities lead to excess brain cells and to the abnormal brain wiring that cause core symptoms in autism. Importantly, the study also shows that gene activity abnormalities in autism change across the lifespan.
Filed under: Biomarkers, Brain Development, Early Intervention, featured, Genetics, Screening, Toddlers
Autism Not Diagnosed As Early In Minority Children
Published February 28, 2012 in NPREarly diagnosis is considered key for autism, but minority children tend to be diagnosed later than white children. Some new work is beginning to try to uncover why and to raise awareness of the warning signs so more parents know they can seek help even for a toddler.
Autism Not Diagnosed As Early In Minority Children
Filed under: Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, Early Intervention, featured, Toddlers
Training Parents Is Good Medicine for Children With Autism Behavior Problems, Study Suggests
Published February 24, 2012 in Science DailyChildren 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.
Training Parents Is Good Medicine for Children With Autism Behavior Problems, Study Suggests
Filed under: Behavior, Early Intervention, featured, Irritability, Mothers, Repetitive Behavior, Social Skills, Treatments
New Autism Research Reveals Brain Differences at 6 Months in Infants Who Develop Autism
Published February 17, 2012 in Center for Autism Research at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)A new study from the Infant Brain Imaging Network, which includes researchers at the Center for Autism Research at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), found significant differences in brain development starting at age 6 months in high-risk infants who later develop autism, compared to high-risk infants who did not develop autism.
Filed under: Biomarkers, Brain Development, Diagnosis, Early Intervention, featured, Genetics, Screening
In the Brain, Signs of Autism as Early as 6 Months Old
Published January 30, 2012 in Science DailyMeasuring brain activity in infants as young as six months may help to predict the future development of autism symptoms.
In the Brain, Signs of Autism as Early as 6 Months Old
Filed under: Behavior, Brain Imaging, Diagnosis, Early Intervention, featured, Screening, Social Skills
New Report Examines Autism Needs for Patients and Families in Pennsylvania
Published January 28, 2012 in Health NewsResults were released yesterday from the Pennsylvania Autism Needs Assessment, which includes feedback from 3,500 Pennsylvania caregivers and adults with autism, making it the largest study of its kind in the nation.
New Report Examines Autism Needs for Patients and Families in Pennsylvania
Filed under: Adults, Diagnosis, Early Intervention, featured, Service Delivery, Social Skills, Treatments
Evaluation of a Parent-Based Behavioral Intervention Program for Children with Autism in a Low-Resource Setting
Published January 1, 2012 in Journal of Pediatric NeuroscienceMany countries do not have widely available or established resources for individuals with autism. This study from New Delhi, India examines parent-based intervention programs for children with autism in a low-resource setting.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22837770
Filed under: Early Intervention, featured, Service Delivery, Treatment
Trained Peers Better at Aiding Autistic Kids with Social Skills
Published December 1, 2011 in PsychCentralA new study suggests training peers can help children with autism spectrum disorder improve their social skills, even more than a direct adult-led intervention.
Trained Peers Better at Aiding Autistic Kids with Social Skills
Filed under: Early Intervention, featured, Service Delivery, Social Skills
Diagnosing Autism At A Younger Age Could Lead To Earlier Interventions
Published October 16, 2011 in Medical News TodayAutism is normally diagnosed between the ages of 2 and 3, but new research is finding symptoms of autism spectrum disorders in babies as young as 12 months.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/236003.php
Filed under: Diagnosis, Early Intervention, featured, Screening, Service Delivery, Toddlers
Children With Autism Benefit from Early, Intensive Therapy
Published September 28, 2011 in Science DailyA primary characteristic of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is impairments in social-communication skills. Children and adolescents with social-communication problems face difficulty understanding, interacting and relating with others. University of Missouri researchers found that children who receive more intensive therapy to combat these impairments, especially at early ages, achieve the best outcomes.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110928125418.htm
Filed under: Applied Behavior Analysis, Behavior, Early Intervention, Social Skills, Speech, Treatments
Animal Model Research Could Lead To The Development Of Diagnostic Tests For Autism Based On Biomarkers
Published September 14, 2011 in Medical News TodayThe first transgenic mouse model of a rare and severe type of autism called Timothy Syndrome is improving the scientific understanding of autism spectrum disorder in general and may help researchers design more targeted interventions and treatments.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/234318.php
Filed under: Animal Models, Biomarkers, Early Intervention, Genetics, Treatments
Infants Given A Social Jump Start By Early Motor Experiences: Study Indicates Infants At Risk For Autism Could Benefit From Motor Training
Published September 12, 2011 in Medical News TodayIn a new study published in the journal Developmental Science (Epub ahead of print), researchers from the Kennedy Krieger Institute and Vanderbilt University found that early motor experiences can shape infants’ preferences for objects and faces. The study findings demonstrate that providing infants with “sticky mittens” to manipulate toys increases their subsequent interest in faces, suggesting advanced social development. This study supports a growing body of evidence that early motor development and self-produced motor experiences contribute to infants’ understanding of the social world around them. Conversely, this implies that when motor skills are delayed or impaired – as in autism – future social interactions and development could be negatively impacted.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/234222.php
Filed under: Brain Development, Early Intervention, Motor Planning, Social Skills
Early motor experiences can shape infants’ preferences for objects and faces
Published September 9, 2011 in News MedicalIn a new study published today in the journal Developmental Science, researchers from the Kennedy Krieger Institute and Vanderbilt University found that early motor experiences can shape infants’ preferences for objects and faces. The study findings demonstrate that providing infants with “sticky mittens” to manipulate toys increases their subsequent interest in faces, suggesting advanced social development.This study supports a growing body of evidence that early motor development and self-produced motor experiences contribute to infants’ understanding of the social world around them. Conversely, this implies that when motor skills are delayed or impaired – as in autism – future social interactions and development could be negatively impacted.
Filed under: Brain Development, Early Intervention, Motor Planning, Social Skills
Multivariate Searchlight Classification of Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Children and Adolescents with Autism
Published September 5, 2011 in Biological PsychiatryMultiple brain regions, including those belonging to the default mode network, exhibit aberrant structural organization in children with autism. Brain-based biomarkers derived from structural magnetic resonance imaging data may contribute to identification of the neuroanatomical basis of symptom heterogeneity and to the development of targeted early interventions.
http://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/S0006-3223(11)00727-X/abstract
Filed under: Biomarkers, Brain Development, Brain Imaging, Diagnosis, Early Intervention
Distinct features of autistic brain revealed in novel Stanford/Packard analysis of MRI scans
Published September 2, 2011 in Stanford UniversityResearchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital have used a novel method for analyzing brain-scan data to distinguish children with autism from typically developing children. Their discovery reveals that the gray matter in a network of brain regions known to affect social communication and self-related thoughts has a distinct organization in people with autism.
http://med.stanford.edu/ism/2011/september/menon.html
Filed under: Biomarkers, Brain Development, Brain Imaging, Diagnosis, Early Intervention, Screening, Toddlers
Detecting, Studying, and Treating Autism Early: The One-Year Well-Baby Check-Up Approach
Published September 1, 2011 in Journal of PediatricsA five-minute checklist filled out by parents at the one-year, well-baby check-up has been shown to predict autism or other developmental delays in about 75 percent of cases. This easily implemented tool is the first validated autism screen for infants and could help pediatricians identify autism even earlier than the evaluations at 18 and 24 […]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21524759
Filed under: Early Intervention
Randomized, Controlled Trial of the LEAP Model of Early Intervention for Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Published May 25, 2011 in Topics in Early Childhood Special EducationA 2011 study supports the effectiveness of an early intervention model for autism spectrum disorder designed to be used in an integrated classroom. Randomized controlled trials are considered to be the gold standard of evidence; however, due to their complexity and cost, only four other RCTs of comprehensive interventions for young children with autism had […]
http://tec.sagepub.com/content/early/2011/05/24/0271121411408740.abstract?rss=1
Filed under: Early Intervention, Preschoolers
New checklist could detect autism by age 1
Published April 28, 2011 in USA TodayAn early screening test for autism, designed to detect signs of the condition in babies as young as 1 year old, could revolutionize the care of autistic children, experts say, by getting them diagnosed and treated years earlier than usual. The checklist available online now asks parents or other caregivers about their child’s communication skills, from babbling and first words to eye contact.
Filed under: Diagnosis, Early Intervention, Screening, Service Delivery
Socioeconomics Playing Reduced Role in Autism Diagnoses
Published April 6, 2011 in Medical News TodayWhile there is an increasing equality in terms of the likelihood that children from communities and families across the socioeconomic spectrum will be diagnosed with autism, a new study finds that such factors still influence the chance of an autism diagnosis, though to a much lesser extent than they did at the height of rising prevalence.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/221409.php
Filed under: Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, Early Intervention, Service Delivery
Treatments Show Promise in Reducing Autism-related Behaviors, but Some have Significant Side Effects
Published April 4, 2011 in Agency for Heathcare Research and QualitySome medical and behavioral treatments show promise for reducing certain behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), but more research is needed to assess the potential benefits and harms, according to a new report funded by HHS’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The research results were published online in the journal Pediatrics.
http://www.ahrq.gov/news/press/pr2011/autismpr.htm
Filed under: Early Intervention, Psychopharmacology, Risperidone, Treatments
A Systematic Review of Early Intensive Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorders
Published April 1, 2011 in PediatricsResearchers at Vanderbilt University reviewed the effectiveness of early intervention programs for children aged 12 and younger with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). Overall, the strength of the evidence ranged from insufficient to low. Studies performed at the University of California Los Angeles /Lovaas-based interventions and variants reported clinically significant gains in language and cognitive skills […]
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2011/04/04/peds.2011-0426.abstract
Filed under: Behavior, Early Intervention, Early Start Denver Model, Language, Speech, Treatments
Misreading Faces Tied to Child Social Anxiety
Published April 1, 2011 in Medical News TodayChildren suffering from extreme social anxiety are trapped in a nightmare of misinterpreted facial expressions: They confuse angry faces with sad ones, a new study shows.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/220974.php
Filed under: Early Intervention, Screening, Social Skills
Catching Autism Symptoms Early to Enable Effective Preventative Interventions Through Play
Published March 23, 2011 in Medical News TodayToddlers 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.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/219815.php
Filed under: Behavior, Early Intervention, Mothers, Social Skills, Toddlers, Treatments
Interactive Program for Dealing with Behavioral Problems is Available as iPhone Application
Published March 18, 2011 in Medical News TodayBehavior Breakthroughs, an interactive program developed by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), uses game-based technology and 3-D imagery to help train people who work with children and adults with behavioral problems.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/219447.php
Filed under: Applied Behavior Analysis, Behavior, Early Intervention, Mothers, Treatments
Less Invasive EEG With Chaos Theory Helps ID Autism Early
Published February 22, 2011 in Medical News TodayFor many years, behavioral testing and observation have been the only way to determine if a child is autistic, often causing distress and confusion for parents. However, now the application of the standard electroencephalogram (EEG) combined with borrowed math from chaos theory, may enable doctors to read brain wave patterns and identify levels of autism one to two years earlier with 80% accuracy.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/217167.php
Filed under: Brain Imaging, Diagnosis, Early Intervention
Virtual Desktop Program Helps Connect The Autism Spectrum
Published February 13, 2011 in Medical News TodayTouchstone Behavioral Health, a Phoenix-based treatment center that specializes in working with children has developed a virtual program that gives patients remote access to specialized autism treatment tools and allows therapists and patients to continue developing real-world life skills outside of traditional clinical environments.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/216306.php
Filed under: Early Intervention, Social Skills, Treatments
Intervention Targeting Development of Socially Synchronous Engagement in Toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Published January 1, 2011 in Journal of Child Psychology and PsychiatryTwo-year-olds with ASD showed improved social skills after completing an intervention targeting core social deficits in autism. It is the first randomized controlled trial to test such an intervention in toddlers and gives promise that a supplementary curriculum could improve social and communication skills in very young children. The researchers randomly assigned 50 toddlers with […]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21126245
Filed under: Early Intervention, Social Interaction, Social Skills
Prevalence of Autism According to Maternal Immigrant Status and Ethnic Origin
Published January 1, 2011 in Acta Psychiatrica Scandanavia, M.-J DealbertoThis study examined the rates of autism according to maternal immigrant status and ethnic origins based on the vitamin D insufficiency hypothesis, which proposes that maternal vitamin D insufficiency during pregnancy could be associated with autism. The study provided further support to the association between maternal immigrant status and an increased risk of autism. In […]
http://www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1600-0447.2010.01662.x/full
Filed under: Brain Development, Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, Early Intervention, Mothers
Preference for Geometric Patterns Early in Life as a Risk Factor for Autism
Published January 1, 2011 in Archives of General Psychiatry, Pierce et al.Researchers from the University of California, San Diego found that a preference for geometric patterns early in life may be a novel and easily detectable early signature of infants and toddlers at risk for autism. One hundred ten toddlers were presented with a one-minute movie depicting moving geometric patterns on one side of a video […]
http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/68/1/101
Filed under: Early Intervention, Eye Tracking, Toddlers
ICare4autism To Create World’s First Global Autism Research And Education Center
Published December 13, 2010 in Medical News TodayThe International Center for Autism Research and Education (ICare4autism), a New York-based charity, announced plans to create the world’s first Global Autism Center on Mt. Scopus in Israel, dedicated to catalyzing breakthrough innovation in autism research and treatment. In a ceremony at Jerusalem’s City Hall hosted by Mayor Nir Barkat, ICare4autism’s President Joshua Weinstein signed an agreement paving the way for ICare4autism to acquire the campus of Bezalel Academy of Art in 2013, and convert it into a center.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/211126.php
Filed under: Diagnosis, Early Intervention, Service Delivery, Treatments
Toddlers With Autism Show Improved Social Skills Following Targeted Intervention
Published December 9, 2010 in Science DailyTargeting 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, according to a study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101208125755.htm
Filed under: Early Intervention, Language, Social Skills, Toddlers, Treatments
Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Autism
Published December 1, 2010 in Journal of the American Medical Association, Giulivi et alChildren with autism are far more likely to have deficits in their ability to produce cellular energy than are typically developing children. While the study is small (10 test subjects) and requires replication, it furthers previous research which has revealed hints of a mitochondrial dysfunction/autism connection. The researchers found that mitochondria from children with autism […]
http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/304/21/2389
Filed under: Biomarkers, Diagnosis, Early Intervention, Screening
Children With Autism Have Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Study Finds
Published November 30, 2010 in Science DailyChildren with autism are far more likely to have deficits in their ability to produce cellular energy than are typically developing children, a new study by researchers at UC Davis has found. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), found that cumulative damage and oxidative stress in mitochondria, the cell’s energy producer, could influence both the onset and severity of autism, suggesting a strong link between autism and mitochondrial defects.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101130161521.htm
Filed under: Biomarkers, Diagnosis, Early Intervention, Genetics, Screening
New Approach Finds Success In Teaching Youth With Autism
Published November 22, 2010 in Medical News TodayAs the number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders continues to increase, the one thing that won't change is the need for those children to develop social skills. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri are developing an effective social competence curriculum, with a virtual classroom component, that could help educators meet the demand […]
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/208821.php
Filed under: Early Intervention, Social Skills, Treatments
Autism-Risk Gene Rewires the Brain in a Way That Disrupts Learning and Language Acquisition
Published November 3, 2010 in Medical News TodayResearchers at UCLA have discovered how an autism-risk gene rewires the brain, which could pave the way for treatments aimed at rebalancing brain circuits during early development. Dr. Geschwind and team examined the variations in brain function and connectivity resulting from two forms of the CNTNAP2 gene – one form of the gene increases the risk of autism. The researchers suspected that CNTNAP2 might have an important impact on brain activity. They used fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) to scan 32 children’s brains while they were performing tasks related to learning. Only 16 of them had autism.The imaging results confirmed their suspicions. All the children with the autism-risk gene showed a disjointed brain, regardless of their diagnosis. Their frontal lobe was over-connected to itself, while connection to the rest of the brain was poor, especially with the back of the brain. There was also a difference between how the left and right sides of the brain connected with each other, depending on which CNTNAP2 version the child carried.The authors believe their findings could help identify autism risk earlier, and eventually lead to interventions that could enhance connections between the frontal lobe and the left side of the brain.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/206640.php
Filed under: Biomarkers, Brain Development, Brain Imaging, Copy Number Variations, Early Intervention, Genetics
A Model for Neural Development and Treatment of Rett Syndrome Using Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Published November 1, 2010 in Cell, Marchetto et alAutism spectrum disorders (ASD) are complex neurodevelopmental diseases in which different combinations of genetic mutations may contribute to the phenotype. Using Rett syndrome (RTT) as an ASD genetic model, we recapitulate early stages of a human neurodevelopmental disease, using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from RTT patients' fibroblasts, which essentially creates a "disease in a […]
http://www.cell.com/abstract/S0092-8674(10)01186-4
Filed under: Brain Development, Diagnosis, Early Intervention, Rett Syndrome, Screening, Stem Cell, Treatments
How Immune Response in Pregnancy May Lead to Brain Disfunction in Offspring
Published October 14, 2010 in Science DailyA pregnant woman’s immune response to viral infections may induce subtle neurological changes in the unborn child that can lead to an increased risk for neurodevelopmental disorders including schizophrenia and autism.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101012141924.htm
Filed under: Animal Models, Autoimmune, Biomarkers, Brain Development, Early Intervention, Genetics, Mothers, Stem Cell
Scientists One Step Closer to Diagnosing Autism with MRI
Published October 13, 2010 in Sify NewsResearchers at the University of Utah (U of U) are one step closer to diagnosing autism using MRI, an advance that eventually could help health care providers identify the problem much earlier in children and lead to improved treatment and outcomes for those with the disorder.
Filed under: Brain Imaging, Diagnosis, Early Intervention, Treatments
Autistic Toddlers Prefer to Gaze at Geometric Patterns
Published September 7, 2010 in Bloomberg Business WeekEye-tracking study reveals that a toddler’s infatuation with geometric patterns instead of social interactions such as dancing, jumping and smiling could be an early sign of autism.
http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/642839.html
Filed under: Early Intervention, Eye Tracking, Repetitive Behavior, Social Interaction, Toddlers
Infants Gaze May Be an Early, but Subtle, Marker for Autism Risk
Published September 1, 2010 in Science DailyKennedy Krieger Institute have announced new study results showing an early marker for later communication and social delays in infants at a higher-risk for autism may be infrequent gazing at other people when unprompted. The study also found that six-month-old high-risk infants demonstrated the same level of cause and effect learning skills when compared to low-risk infants of the same age.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100901111628.htm
Filed under: Baby Sibs, Behavior, Biomarkers, Diagnosis, Early Intervention, Eye Tracking, Screening, Siblings, Social Skills
Structural Basis for Autism Disorders
Published August 25, 2010 in Science DailyThere is still much that is unknown about autism spectrum disorders, but a University of Nevada, Reno psychologist has added to the body of knowledge that researchers around the world are compiling to try to demystify, prevent and treat the mysterious condition.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100825174116.htm
Filed under: Applied Behavior Analysis, Early Intervention, Service Delivery, Synapse, Treatments
Early Life Influences Risk for Psychiatric Disorders
Published August 18, 2010 in Science DailyFor more than a century, clinical investigators have focused on early life as a source of adult psychopathology. Although the hypothesized mechanisms have evolved, a central notion remains: early life is a period of unique sensitivity during which experience confers enduring effects.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100818090012.htm
Filed under: Brain Development, Early Intervention, Mothers
Researchers Find Predictors of Autism That Can Lead to Infant Diagnosis
Published August 5, 2010 in S.I. LiveCertain behaviors seen in infants as young as 1-month-old may be predictors of autism spectrum disorders, according to new research by scientists at the Institute for Basic Research and Developmental Disabilities, Willowbrook.At 1 month, children with the ASD diagnosis were more likely to have asymmetrical visual tracking and arm tone deficits. By 4 months, they were more attracted to higher levels of visual stimulation, much like younger infants. Between 7 and 10 months, the children with ASD showed major declines in mental and motor performance.
http://www.silive.com/westshore/index.ssf/2010/08/researchers_from_staten_island.html
Filed under: Behavior, Diagnosis, Early Intervention, Screening
New Technology Reveals a Unique Vocal Signature in Autism
Published July 20, 2010 in Medical News TodayStudy reports new automated vocal analysis technology could fundamentally change the study of language development as well as the screening for autism spectrum disorders and language delay.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/195268.php
Filed under: Early Intervention, Language, Screening, Speech
Blinking Could Detect Autism
Published May 21, 2010 in SFARIThe researchers tracked eye movements and blinks in 41 2-year-olds with autism and 52 healthy controls while the children watched a short movie of two toddlers on a playground. Both groups on average blinked about five times per minute. But they differed significantly in how their blinking lined up with the content of the movie.Healthy toddlers refrained from blinking as they watched scenes with high emotional content, such as when the toddler-actors fought about a toy. Toddlers with autism, in contrast, were just as likely to blink during emotional scenes as during dull ones.
Filed under: Early Intervention, Eye Tracking, Screening, Toddlers
Kids with Autism Not Helped by Parent Training Alone
Published May 20, 2010 in Web MDTraining parents to adapt communication to their child’s impairments doesn’t affect the child’s autism but does help the parent-child relationship, U.K. researchers find. The idea was that training parents to respond to their child’s specific communication needs would jump-start the child’s social development and improve the child’s general communication skills.
http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/news/20100520/kids-autism-not-helped-by-parent-training-alone
Filed under: Early Intervention, Social Skills, Treatments
Newborn Infants Learn While Asleep; Study May Lead To Later Disability Tests
Published May 19, 2010 in Medical News TodaySleeping newborns are better learners than thought, says a University of Florida researcher about a study that is the first of its type. The study could lead to identifying those at risk for developmental disorders such as autism and dyslexia.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/189111.php
Filed under: Brain Development, Early Intervention, Sleep
IntegraGen Announces Publication of Four Genetic Variants in Autism
Published May 14, 2010 in Medical News TodayIntegraGen SA, a French biotechnology company dedicated to gene discovery, announced today the publication of the results of a collaborative study reporting the use of a combined analysis of multiple genetic variants in a genetic score to help identify individuals at high risk of developing autism.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/188671.php
Filed under: Biomarkers, Copy Number Variations, Diagnosis, Early Intervention, Genetics, Screening
How, When Child Develops Autism May Determine Outcome
Published April 23, 2010 in US News & World ReportChildren with autism whose social and communications skills regress around age 3 tend to have more severe autism than children who show signs of the neurodevelopmental disorder at younger ages, new research finds.
Filed under: Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, Early Intervention
Autism Outcomes Linked to Onset
Published April 21, 2010 in PsychCentralA new study by the Kennedy Krieger Institute suggests that the long-term outcome of autism disorders is linked to when and how symptoms first appear. Surprisingly, researchers discovered children with early developmental warning signs may actually be at lower risk for poor outcomes than children with less delayed early development who experience a loss or plateau in skills.
http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/04/21/autism-outcomes-linked-to-onset/12994.html
Filed under: Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, Early Intervention
Intensive Treatment Found To Be Highly Effective
Published April 6, 2010 in NewswiseResults of a randomized clinical trial found an innovative multi-component summer social development program to be effective in improving the social performance of children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders.
Filed under: Early Intervention, Language, Service Delivery, Social Skills, Treatments
Children With Autistic Traits Remain Undiagnosed
Published March 22, 2010 in Science DailyThere has been a major increase in the incidence of autism over the last twenty years. While people have differing opinions as to why this is (environment, vaccines, mother’s age, better diagnostic practice, more awareness etc.) there are still many children who have autistic traits that are never diagnosed clinically. Therefore, they do not receive the support they need through educational or health services.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100322131423.htm
Filed under: Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, Early Intervention, Screening, Service Delivery
Music Training Enhances Brainstem Activity to Speech Sounds
Published February 22, 2010 in Science DailyAt a Feb. 20 press briefing held during the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting, a Northwestern University neuroscientist argued that music training has profound effects that shape the sensory system and should be a mainstay of K-12 education. Kraus presented her own research and the research of other neuroscientists suggesting music education can be an effective strategy in helping typically developing children as well as children with developmental dyslexia or autism more accurately encode speech.
Filed under: Brain Development, Early Intervention, Language, Speech, Treatments
Autism’s Earliest Symptoms Not Evident in Children Under 6 Months
Published February 16, 2010 in Science DailyA study of the development of autism in infants, comparing the behavior of the siblings of children diagnosed with autism to that of babies developing normally, has found that the nascent symptoms of the condition — a lack of shared eye contact, smiling and communicative babbling — are not present at 6 months, but emerge gradually and only become apparent during the latter part of the first year of life.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100216091009.htm
Filed under: Baby Sibs, Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, Early Intervention, Eye Tracking, Screening, Siblings
Cartoon Trains Teach Autistic Children About Emotions
Published January 7, 2010 in The Sydney Morning HeraldPutting a human face on a cartoon train, bus or tram proved to help children with autism understand emotions. The head of the University of Cambridge’s Autism Research Centre, Simon Baron-Cohen, conducted a study using a series of 15 animated stories called The Transporters. Each episode focused on a different emotion – from simple ones such as happy, sad and angry to more complex emotions such as sorry, ashamed, tired and joking. The findings showed children with autism spectrum conditions had improved emotion recognition after watching the 3D program for 15 minutes a day over a month.
Filed under: Behavior, Early Intervention, Social Skills, Treatments
Randomized, Controlled, Trial of an Intervention for Toddlers with Autism: The Early Start Denver Model
Published January 1, 2010 in Pediatrics, Dawson, Rogers, Munson, Smith, Winter, Greeson, Donaldson, and VarleyThe first randomized, controlled trial to demonstrate the efficacy of a comprehensive developmental behavioral intervention for toddlers with ASD for improving cognitive and adaptive behavior and reducing severity of ASD diagnosis. Results of this study underscore the importance of early detection of and intervention in autism.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/peds.2009-0958v1
Filed under: Early Intervention, Early Start Denver Model, Toddlers, Treatments
New CDC Report on Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Published December 18, 2009 in CDC- MMWR Surveillance StudiesIn 2006, on average, approximately 1% or one child in every 110 in the 11 ADDM sites was classified as having an ASD. The average prevalence of ASDs identified among children aged 8 years increased 57% in 10 sites from the 2002 to the 2006 ADDM surveillance year. Although improved ascertainment accounts for some of the prevalence increases documented in the ADDM sites, a true increase in the risk for children to develop ASD symptoms cannot be ruled out. On average, although delays in identification persisted, ASDs were being diagnosed by community professionals at earlier ages in 2006 than in 2002.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5810a1.htm
Filed under: Behavior, Early Intervention, Screening
Baby Face–Harvard Experts Hope Facial Recognition Studies Benefit Autism Research
Published December 4, 2009 in ABC NewsResearchers at Children’s Hospital Boston studying the science of how babies read facial expressions say they’re hoping their results will prove useful for autism and developmental research. Scientists at Harvard believe emotion detection is so crucial in everyday life that they’re willing to cajole babies into an electrode “net” to see how to see how humans first learn to read faces.
Filed under: Brain Imaging, Early Intervention, Eye Tracking, Social Skills
Early Intervention for Toddlers With Autism Highly Effective, Study Finds
Published November 30, 2009 in Science DailyA novel early intervention program for very young children with autism — some as young as 18 months — is effective for improving IQ, language ability and social interaction, a comprehensive new study has found.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091130084720.htm
Filed under: Early Intervention, Language, Social Skills, Speech, Toddlers, Treatments
Experts Summarize the State of Research in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published October 14, 2009 in Science DailyScientific understanding and medical treatments for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have advanced significantly over the past several years, but much remains to be done, say experts from the Center for Autism Research at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia who recently published a scientific review of the field.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091014122049.htm
Filed under: Brain Development, Diagnosis, Early Intervention, Screening, Service Delivery, Treatments
Utah Researchers Discover Another Genetic Link to Autism
Published October 8, 2009 in Salt Lake TribuneAn international consortium of researchers, including three from the University of Utah, has discovered yet another genetic link to autism. Studying the genes of more than 1,000 families — including 150 from Utah — who have more than one person with the disorder, the researchers found a region on chromosome 5 that is strongly associated with autism.
http://www.sltrib.com/News/ci_13516284
Filed under: Biomarkers, Diagnosis, Early Intervention, Genetics, Screening, Treatments
Op-Ed: Fight to Overcome Autism Gets Major Boost, Higher Priority
Published October 5, 2009 in HHS Secretary Kathleen SebeliusThe federal government will provide nearly twice as much funding for autism research in the upcoming fiscal year as we had just three years ago. President Obama has made autism a focus from the first days of his presidency in hopes to counterbalance some of the new challenges Autism has created for for families, schools, and health care providers.
http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_hl939
Filed under: Diagnosis, Early Intervention, Screening, Treatments
Can Children with Autism Recover? If so, How?
Published December 31, 2008 in Neuropsychology Review, Helt, Kelley, et alAlthough Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are generally assumed to be lifelong, we review evidence that between 3% and 25% of children reportedly lose their ASD diagnosis and enter the normal range of cognitive, adaptive and social skills. Predictors of recovery include relatively high intelligence, receptive language, verbal and motor imitation, and motor development, but not […]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19009353
Filed under: Diagnosis, Diagnostic Disparities, Early Intervention, Treatments
Peripheral Biomarkers in Autism: Secreted Amyloid Precursor Protein-Alpha as a Probably Key Player in Early Diagnosis
Published October 15, 2008 in Inter. Journal Clinical Exp. Medicine, Bailey, Giunta, et alAutism is a pervasive developmental disorder characterized by impairments in socialization and communication. There is currently no single molecular marker or laboratory tool capable of diagnosing autism at an early age. The purpose of this study is to explore the plausible use of peripheral biomarkers in the early diagnosis of autism via a sensitive ELISA. […]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19079679
Filed under: Biomarkers, Diagnosis, Early Intervention
Screening Strategies for Autism Spectrum Disorders in Pediatric Primary Care
Published October 1, 2008 in Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Pinto-Martin, Young, Mandell, Poghosyan, Giarelli, LevyTwo strategies have been proposed for early identification of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD): (1) using a general screening tool followed by an ASD-specific screening tool for those who screen positive on the former or (2) using an ASD-specific tool for all children. The relative yield of these two strategies has not been examined. […]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18852608
Filed under: Diagnosis, Early Intervention, Screening, Service Delivery, Toddlers