Category Archives: Autism

Clues to Autism, Schizophrenia Emerge

21 Mar 2015

A new understanding of the brain’s cerebellum could lead to new treatments for people with problems caused by some strokes, autism and even schizophrenia.

Autism is Largely Down to Genes, Twins Study Suggests

13 Mar 2015

The King’s College London team said 181 of the teenagers had autism, but the risk was far higher in identical twins where one twin had autism, as they share the same DNA.

When Children With Autism Grow Up

02 Mar 2015

I was 23 and needed a summer job; he was 21 and needed full-time support. He’s one of an estimated half million people diagnosed with autism who are soon becoming adults — and who society is entirely unprepared for.

Anti-Vaccinators Unconvinced by Science Showing No Autism Link

26 Feb 2015

The Centers for Disease Control on Tuesday announced 20 new cases of measles, bringing the total to 141. It’s the largest outbreak of measles in the U.S. since 2000, owing largely to the nation’s growing anti-vaccination movement. These parents are afraid that vaccinations put their children at risk of developing autism, but new research that should relieve some of those fears.

If You’ve Met One Kid With Autism, You’ve Met ONE

18 Feb 2015

My favorite thing to tell anyone who asks about life with autism is “If you’ve met one kid with autism, you’ve met ONE kid with autism.”

Autism is as individual as the individual themselves. I used to be a support parent to newly diagnosed autism families in our county. The first thing I always said when talking about anything was “Here is what worked for us…”

Every case of autism is different. Some kids are okay being touched. TJ wasn’t. Some kids are non-verbal. TJ is very verbal. Some kids seemed to develop in a typical fashion until they were 1 or 1 1/2, and then lost language. That wasn’t our experience at all; TJ appeared to have autism from the second he was born.

More Differences Than Similarities Are Found in Autistic Siblings

08 Feb 2015

Most siblings with a diagnosis of autism do not share the same genetic risk factors for the disorder and are as distinct in their behaviors as any brothers and sisters, scientists reported on Monday in a study that came as a surprise to many doctors, if not to parents.

Autism League a Hit With Players

01 Feb 2015

For the 20 or so players who make up the Thunder Pandas and Lunging Lizards baseball teams, scoring runs isn’t particularly important. Neither is stealing bases, fielding fly balls or playing specific positions.

Pets Help Autistic Kids Improve Social Skills

17 Jan 2015

Plenty of research shows pets — especially dogs — bring psychological benefits to patients with a range of health conditions. And increasingly, experts are observing the unique impact pets have on children with autism. New research finds autistic children who have a pets at home have much more advanced social skills and are more assertive and communicative than autistic children who do not have an animal companion.