DIAGNOSIS OF AUTISM AND RESEARCH
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Current research on Autism has focused on "etiology", the causes of ASD and "neurology", the science of the nervous system. This research has led to progress in early diagnosis and has resulted in the success of early intervention therapies. It is important for all stakeholders to beware of false rumors and fad therapies.
Current research on Autism has focused on "etiology", the causes of ASD and "neurology", the science of the nervous system. This research has led to progress in early diagnosis and has resulted in the success of early intervention therapies. It is important for all stakeholders to beware of false rumors and fad therapies.
Autism and Vaccines: Despite rumors about childhood vaccines causing Autism, research studies have proven this is not the case.
Fad therapies : Parents and educators should be cautious about any autism therapy that is not based on scientific research.
In this 20 minute video, Autism Criteria Explained, a young woman with autism explains the diagnostic criteria in the 5th Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). She makes reference to the "neurodiversity" viewpoint, which is a perspective that questions the treatment of autistic people as having deficits that need to be fixed rather than accepting them as people with differences that need to be appreciated.
Diagnosis of ASD
This 30 minute video, Professor Tony Attwood from the organization Generation Next describes the elements considered in an Autism Diagnosis. Could it be Autism? is "insightful and optimistic" and well worth the time.
The Association for Science in Autism Treatment summary of autism diagnosis criteria includes the five areas specified by the 5th Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
These five areas are:
social communication deficits
fixated interests and repetitive behaviors
symptoms existing in early childhood
symptoms impairing functioning
impairments are not better explained by intellectual disability
RESEARCH
The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development provides details about potential causes of Autism including environmental factors, genetic factors, and other biological causes. What Causes Autism?
Folate is a B vitamin associated with metabolism and nervous system function. It is potentially one of the environmental factors associated with autism. Higher unmetabolized folic acid (UMFA) in cord blood and maternal blood during pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of ASD. This is why doctors recommend that pregnant mothers supplement their diets with 400 ug folic acid.
References:
Liu, X., Zou, M., Sun, C., Wu, L., & Chen, W. (2021). Prenatal folic acid supplements and offspring’s autism spectrum disorder: A meta-analysis and meta-regression. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. doi:10.1007/s10803-021-04951-8
Individuals with Autism process sound differently than other people. Researchers at the University of Miami and Harvard Medical School are looking for differences in the results of the standard hearing test babies are given at birth as an early indicator of ASD. This Hearing Test Study shows that ASD can potentially be detected in infants.
Neuroimaging studies have shown brain activity differences that individuals with autism and typically developing individuals (TD). In a study exploring semantic processing, researchers expected to see some similarities in the areas of activation and differences in the patterns. They conducted a meta-analysis of the Activation Likelihood Estimation (ALE) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They concluded that the less concise areas of activation during language processing for ASD indicate inefficiency compared to the more obvious areas of activation by TD. The images do show the differences in activation intensity and similar patterns related to each group.
References:
Phan, L., Tariq, A., Lam, G., Pang, E. W., & Alain, C. (2020). The neurobiology of semantic processing in autism Spectrum Disorder: An Activation likelihood estimation analysis ANALYSIS. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. doi:10.1007/s10803-020-04794-9
BEHAVIOR
BEHAVIOR
Dr. Bradley Ferguson explains the connection between GI issues and behavior issues in people with autism this recorded webinar from 2020 He presents current research including a study entitled GI, Problem Behavior, & Internalizing Symptoms in ASD.
At the end he answers questions from the audience.
SOCIAL SKILLS
SOCIAL SKILLS
Friendship in Children and Adults with ASD
In this webinar from 2018, Micah Mazurek, Ph.D., and Latha Soorya, Ph.D. discuss their research on making friends and improving social skills for individuals with autism.
In this study by Yuan and Chen, pairing children with ASD with peers who have similar interests increased their social communication by Improving Reciprocal Conversation
Yuan, C., & Chen, L. (2020). Improving reciprocal conversation and social preference of children with autism. Exceptional Children, 87(1), 113-132. doi:10.1177/0014402920926460
SENSORY
SENSORY
Lindsey Biel has created this excellent presentation in 2017 describing her research on
Biel has written 2 books on Sensory Processing
For mental health professionals:
Sensory Processing Challenges
For teachers and parents:
Raising a Sensory Smart Child
Autism Research Institute. (2017). Supporting Sensory Needs. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qC337at9j4.
Communication & Language
Communication & Language
In this article,
Intervention effects on spoken language outcomes for children with autism,
researchers Hampton and Kaiser review the effectiveness of early intervention programs for improving communication.
Hampton, L. H., & Kaiser, A. P. (2016). Intervention effects on spoken-language outcomes for children with autism: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 60(5), 444–463. https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.12283
Academics & Cognition
Academics & Cognition
In the article,
by
Janine P Stichter, T Chris Riley-Tillman, and Shane R Jimerson
the authors summarize
recent research in assessment, identification, and interventions for ASD
Stichter, J. P., Riley-Tillman, T. C., & Jimerson, S. R. (2016). Assessing, understanding, and supporting students with autism at school: Contemporary science, practice, and policy. School Psychology Quarterly, 31(4), 443–449. https://doi.org/10.1037/spq0000184
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