Author: Autism Today News.

Listen to this story: Your browser doesn’t support the audio element Back 15 seconds Forward 15 seconds 0:00  /  In 1984, the American Academy of Pediatrics began cautioning parents and clinicians about the effects of too much television for children. At the time, the Academy worried that sitting in front of a screen for extended periods might promote aggressive behavior — due to violent shows — or contribute to obesity, because watching TV took time away from other activities, such as playing outside. Since then, research has expanded to investigate other health metrics in children, linking excessive television watching to…

Share this story Copy Link Link Copied! Email Facebook LinkedIn Twitter WhatsApp Reddit Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University It comes “out of the blue.” That’s a frequent refrain by caregivers of individuals with profound autism who regularly become aggressive and violent. But what if such behavior could be predicted? How many 911 calls, injuries or volatile situations could be avoided? Northeastern University professor Matthew Goodwin recently published a study in JAMA Network Open demonstrating that aggressive behavior by youth with profound autism can be predicted 3 minutes in advance and with 80% accuracy using biosensor data and machine learning.  Biosensors…

Damage to the gut can promote behavior reminiscent of the social impairments associated with autism, a new study has found.Scientists at the University of Utah Health (U of U Health) have shown that individuals with behavioral abnormalities might possess a microbiota that promotes inflammation while lacking microbial members that promote a healthy gut.Published in the journal Nature Communications, the study demonstrated that the replacement of these microbes could alleviate both gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and the behavioral changes they provoke.“There are several studies in humans that demonstrate that individuals with autism are co-morbid for GI problems. In some studies, it is…

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) involve mild to severe impairment of social, behavioral and communication abilities. These disorders can significantly impact performance at school, in employment and in other areas of life. However, researchers lack knowledge about how these disorders emerge at early stages of development.University of California San Diego neurobiologists have found evidence of altered development of the nervous system in mouse models of autism spectrum disorders. They linked environmentally induced forms of ASD to changes in neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers that allow neurons to communicate with each other. They also discovered that manipulating these neurotransmitters at early stages of…

In a recent study published in the journal Autism Research, a group of researchers examined the association between family history of neurodevelopmental (NDD) and neuropsychiatric (NPD) disorders and the developmental outcomes in younger siblings (SIBS) of children with autism. Study: Family history of psychiatric conditions and development of siblings of children with autism. Image Credit: Berit Kessler / Shutterstock Background  Autism spectrum disorder (autism) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social and communication impairments, sensory sensitivities, repetitive behaviors, and stereotyped interests. The prevalence of autism in the United States is estimated at 2.78%. Having an autistic relative increases the likelihood of recurrence…

Overview Many adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have complex educational and health needs. These adolescents will likely benefit from transition planning and access to services and supports as they grow into adulthood. CDC helps identify needs among adolescents with ASD as they grow CDC leads public health efforts for people with disabilities and developmental concerns across the lifespan through data collection, evidence-informed strategies, and partnerships. CDC tracks the number and characteristics of children and adolescents with ASD to understand factors associated with outcomes as they age and transition to adulthood. CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network began…

(SACRAMENTO) Autistic youth who were born in underserved neighborhoods are more likely to have greater attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms than those born in communities with more resources. This is one finding of a new study led by researchers at the UC Davis MIND Institute.   This is the first time researchers have investigated how neighborhood factors are associated with ADHD in autistic and non-autistic children. The study provides new insights into mental health conditions and has the potential to inform public policy changes to improve health equity. It was published in the journal JCPP Advances. “We found that some neighborhood…

After earning her bachelor’s degree in 2016 and a master’s at Columbia University, WMU alumna Erin Beal was set to begin her career in rhetoric and writing, working for the University’s regional location in Grand Rapids and planning to continue her graduate work. One year later at age 30, she was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and pursued a much different path to understanding her own condition and helping others with ASD reach their full potential. She used her personal experience as well as what she’s learned earning a master’s in Developmental Disabilities at Teachers College, Columbia University, and working…

Adaptive interior designer Shelly Rosenberg and her special needs son in his room with safe task … [+] lighting.Shelly Rosenberg “Autism is dramatically on the rise, and the prevalence rate has nearly tripled since 2000,” declares Connecticut-based child psychologist and author of It’s Gonna Be OK: Proven Ways to Reverse Your Child’s Mental Health Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge. “According to the Centers for Disease Control, about one in 44 children has autism,” she adds. “Having a child with autism can be overwhelming, but making changes to your home spaces to reduce behaviors doesn’t have to be,” she advises, adding that these…

CNN  —  Some individuals with autism have challenges processing senses. Others struggle to communicate. Still others might have a tough time socializing, thinking, physically moving or just going about daily living. People with autism have their own ways of interacting with the world, because autism is a developmental disability that affects everyone who has it a little differently, according to Dr. Daniel Geschwind, the Gordon and Virginia Macdonald distinguished professor of human genetics, neurology and psychiatry at UCLA. Geschwind has spent 25 years studying autism and what causes it. To mark Autism Awareness Month, CNN talked with him about what…