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Autism spectrum disorders news

Autism spectrum disorders

Autistic people's feelings mostly misread—empathy works both ways, research reveals

The idea that autistic people lack empathy is simply short-sighted and non-autistic people may find it just as hard to put themselves in someone else's shoes, a study suggests.

Autism spectrum disorders

Simple learning test may be used to diagnose autism at just six months of age

A combined team of psychologists from the University of Milano-Bicocca and the Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Child Psychopathology Unit, both in Italy, has discovered what might be a marker for autism that could diagnose ...

Autism spectrum disorders

Autistic children could be the real winners from online games

Online gaming could be beneficial for pre-teens on the autism spectrum, with new research by the University of Adelaide indicating the popular pastime can help improve social skills and expand friendship networks.

Autism spectrum disorders

Metabolism of autism reveals developmental origins

Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine have shed new light on the changes in metabolism that occur between birth and the presentation of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) later in childhood. ...

Neuroscience

Potential link between PTSD and autism found in mice

People on the autism spectrum are predisposed to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a new study from The Australian National University (ANU) and the University of Queensland has shown.

Autism spectrum disorders

Helping your child make friends with a child with autism

Kids are very likely to make the acquaintance of a child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at some point, whether they know it or not. An estimated 95% of children with disabilities enroll in regular schools, experts ...

Autism spectrum disorders

Understanding autism: The path to diagnosis, awareness and support

Diagnosing a person with autism spectrum disorder can be challenging. It's a medical condition that no blood test, brain scan or objective test can pinpoint. And because of each person's distinctive pattern of symptoms, it ...

Genetics

Gene linked to epilepsy and autism decoded in new study

A genetic change or variant in a gene called SCN2A is a known cause of infantile seizures, autism spectrum disorder, and intellectual disability, as well as a wide range of other moderate-to-profound impairments in mobility, ...

Psychology & Psychiatry

Don't trust TikTok for trustworthy info on autism

TikTok may be great for watching funny cat videos and learning make-up hacks, but new research suggests this platform should not be trusted when it comes to information on autism.

Autism spectrum disorders

Can we trust autism information on TikTok? Not always, says study

While social media can be a great resource for connecting with others, it can also quickly and easily spread misleading or inaccurate information in mass. Social media platforms, especially the popular TikTok app, have allowed ...

Psychology & Psychiatry

Limited gestures may not be definitive in diagnosing autism

Limited gesturing is often a key part of establishing a diagnosis of autism, but new research indicates that certain types of gestures may not necessarily be produced less frequently than others.

Autism spectrum disorders

New insights into the developmental trajectory of autism

In a study published in JAMA Pediatrics, researchers at Boston Children's Hospital shed new light on the evolving nature of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnoses in early childhood. Diagnosing ASD at a young age is important ...

Autism spectrum disorders

Can a simple eye exam help diagnose autism?

Females are often underdiagnosed with being on the autism spectrum because they often mask their symptoms more successfully than males. The key to understanding why may be in a simple eye exam.

Neuroscience

Language acquisition may work differently in people with autism

You're looking at a truck. You're with a young child and he follows your gaze. He's interested in the object you're looking at without you pointing at it. This is called joint attention and it is one of the primary ways children ...