Author: Autism Today News.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is quite prevalent, but its underlying mechanism is not well understood. In a recent study, researchers from Japan have found a significant link between the levels of specific dihydroxy fatty acids in umbilical cord blood and ASD symptoms. Their findings highlight the role of these metabolites in the developmental trajectory of ASD and could pave the way for early diagnostic techniques and a better understanding of ASD pathophysiology.Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects learning capability and social behavior of people. Over the past few decades, awareness regarding ASD has increased, especially regarding…

Augustana University will host the 15th Annual Lighting the Way Autism Conference at Memorial Middle School in Sioux Falls on Wednesday, June 7, and Thursday, June 8. Free and open to the public, the Lighting the Way Autism Walk will take place at the Augustana Morrison Commons on Saturday, June 10, from 10 a.m. – noon. The walk will provide attendees the opportunity to sign up for scholarships for therapies, special equipment or camps, and will include an array of fun activities. This year’s Lighting the Way Autism Conference will focus on transitions across the lifespan. The conference is for…

Congress approved a short-term extension of the Autism CARES Act ensuring that programs operating under the law will be maintained into December. (Thinkstock) Lawmakers approved a short-term extension of the nation’s primary autism law, but the path to renewing the measure, which includes nearly $2 billion for the developmental disability, could be rockier than expected. Disability advocates have been pushing Congress for months to renew the law known as the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education and Support, or Autism CARES, Act before it expired at the end of September. The U.S. House of Representatives voted to re-up the measure, but…

In short: The SA government is running a pilot program to help more students access an autism assessment in Adelaide’s northern suburbs. Cost and waiting times can be a barrier for many families wanting an assessment for their children.What’s next? The two-year trial will begin in June and will be available for up to 100 school students.Jack Herzich understands the importance of an autism diagnosis, because it’s something he could easily have missed out on.The 18-year-old university student is currently training to become a teacher — a career path he attributes in part to one of his teachers who was a crucial support.Draft…

Have you ever observed how agitated children become when you take away their phones while they are using them?Over the past few years, virtual autism has become a major concern for parents, teachers, and health providers. A condition believed to result from excessive screen time, this unexplained epidemic impairs children’s development and leads to problems with social engagement, much like actual autism. As kids spend more time with gadgets and digital media, many develop addictive behaviours that seriously affect their cognitive and social well-being. The effects can be drastic: from speech and language delays to problems with social interaction and…

Scientists have identified a distinct brain connectivity pattern in 6-week-old infants who are more likely to develop autism. The discovery offers exciting insights into the neurological development of autism spectrum disorders while supporting the development of early interventions in the future.Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) encompass a broad group of conditions characterized by some degree of difficulty in social interaction and communication. In the U.S., ASD affects roughly one in 36 children by the age of 8, according to a 2020 report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.There are many potential causes of autism spectrum disorders, which include…

In 1987, a prominent University of California Los Angeles psychologist published the culmination of his life’s work — and spurred headlines across the globe. Ole Ivar Lovaas claimed that delivering a new therapy one-on-one for 40 hours a week had made nine of 19 autistic children “indistinguishable from their typically developing peers.” Half his subjects, he reported, saw 30-point IQ gains, learned to speak normally and were able to function alongside other students.  It was huge news. At the time, an autism diagnosis frequently meant life in an institution for the child in question. The opening of a path to…

Blenheim Primary School – off Blenheim Chase in Leigh – has revealed a proposal to build two new classrooms, changing rooms, a sensory room, as well as a “quiet area” away from the main school building. If approved by Southend Council, the new building will become a “autism resource base” to help provide the “very best support” to children while keeping them in mainstream education. The school is part of the Learning in Harmony Academy, which includes Greenways Primary School and Temple Sutton where similar buildings have been created. Trust executive leader for special educational needs and disability (Send), Ashley…

In 2007, Jai Reddy confronted the huge task of addressing his son’s recently diagnosed autism. He was soon surprised at the difficulty involved and knew there had to be a better way.“Back then, we had only about 30 percent of the resources that exist today,” he says. “And the facilities that were available were often isolated. In a large hospital, occupational therapy might be on the third floor and physical therapy on the fifth. And they didn’t talk to each other. The people worked solely within their own specialty.”In addition to being siloed and overspecialized, centers for help were physically…

Register for free to listen to this article Thank you. Listen to this article using the player above. ✖ Want to listen to this article for FREE? Complete the form below to unlock access to ALL audio articles. Florey researchers have found evidence of higher levels of the plastic chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in pregnant mothers who gave birth to sons with autism.Research published in Nature Communications, led by Florey scientists Dr Wah Chin Boon and Professor Anne-Louise Ponsonby, supports the hypothesis of a possible link between autism and exposure to plastic chemicals in the womb.Professor Ponsonby said the researchers analyzed…