autism

As April marks Autism Awareness Month, faculty in the Department of Media and Information (M&I) are working to improve how mental health is assessed among autistic adolescents by redesigning screening tools to be more accessible, precise and inclusive. Led by Celeste Campos-Castillo and Susan Bonner, associate professors in M&I, their project combines expertise in communication, health services a…

Children with epilepsy have a higher risk of also having autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A new study in Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology examined factors associated with the co-occurrence of autism and epilepsy in a large population-based group.

Background and AimsAnxiety and depression symptoms are common among autistic youth, yet little is known about the pattern and relationship of their trajectories from childhood into adolescence, a period of increasing social and academic demands.MethodsThis study used parallel process latent growth curve models to examine joint trajectories, including initial levels and rate of change in caregiver…

PurposeThe COVID-19 pandemic disrupted essential services, posing unique challenges for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who depend on consistent, specialized support. Service providers faced unique challenges in adapting to remote delivery methods, highlighting the fragility of existing systems during crises. This study explored the experiences of ASD service providers in Qatar du…

The increasing use of telehealth in autism care has created opportunities to improve caregiver satisfaction as it remains a critical challenge in pediatric specialty settings. The purpose of this integrative review was to identify strategies that healthcare administrators can implement to improve caregiver satisfaction with telehealth platforms and optimize care delivery for autism patients. Usin…

BackgroundAutistic children experience disproportionately high rates of malnutrition compared to non-autistic (NA) peers. Sensorimotor integration differences (SMD), prevalent in 69–95% of autistic individuals, are hypothesized to drive this disparity. SMD contributes to core autistic traits that exacerbate feeding difficulties (e.g., food selectivity), potentially leading to malnutrition and gut…

Penn Medicine and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) today announced the appointment of Eric M. Morrow, MD, PhD, as the founding director of the Lurie Autism Institute.

David Amaral, distinguished professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the MIND Institute, has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from INSAR, in recognition of his contributions to autism research.

IntroductionChinese American families of autistic children remain underrepresented in the autism intervention literature.MethodsThe current study examined the efficacy and social validity of a culturally adapted and telepractice version of Prevent, Teach, and Reinforce for Families (PTR-F) for Chinese American families of young autistic children in the U.S. Two independent randomized multiple bas…

Hearing tests administered to most newborn babies in Michigan could hold clues to which ones might later be diagnosed with neurodevelopmental conditions, such as autism spectrum disorder. Such a finding could identify at-risk children who could benefit from early interventions, and support their participation in family, school, and community activities, said Nicole Talge, a College of … The post …

A landmark study led by researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and published in Molecular Psychiatry has identified a significant association between prenatal prescription of commonly utilized medications and the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children.

Autism is linked to distinct physical anomalies at birth, according to new research. The study reveals that boys with autism show higher rates of urogenital malformations, while girls show more circulatory issues, hinting at hormonal origins.

IntroductionAutism and ADHD frequently co-occur and each of them are overrepresented in clinical eating disorder (ED) services, where they are associated with longer treatment, poorer treatment experiences, and worse clinical outcomes. Separately, Autistic and ADHD patients with EDs present with greater ED psychopathology, anxiety, and depression. Autistic patients also present with poorer qualit…

Astrocytes are the most abundant non-neuronal cell in the brain and a fresh focus in autism research. As with other glial cells, they were long considered “support cells” for neurons—but recent research makes it clear they play critical roles as neuromodulators. Studies are showing their role in guiding neural pathway development and regulating social behaviors, oxytocin and anxiety in ways that …

A new trial could significantly benefit autistic children and their families and the care provided across the entire UK healthcare system

Not all caregivers have the tools they need at home to manage communication barriers with children with autism. UT San Antonio researchers have developed an app to provide access and convenience in the palm of their hand. Housed in the Brain Health Consortium at UT San Antonio, Behavior Buddy offers timely, practical support when families […] The post ‘A game changer’: AI app offers support to ca…

Employers seeking to deliver truly comprehensive benefits can no longer afford to overlook autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and its growing impact on their workforce. ASD prevalence has risen sharply. In 2022, approximately one in 31 children eight years of age was diagnosed, compared with one in 150 in 2000, representing a nearly fourfold increase. [1] Yet access to care has not kept pace. There a…

SRI - A global leader in R&D with deep roots in Silicon Valley. The institute’s work on the Autism Data Science Initiative aims to advance our understanding of what positive autism care outcomes look like and how they can be achieved. The post SRI joins an ambitious NIH effort to improve autism care appeared first on SRI .

Scientists comment on the launch of an independent review into the prevalence and support for mental health conditions, ADHD and … read more