Autism News and Research

Latest Autism News and Research

PA: First in nation to release statewide data on autism

Pennsylvania is expected to see a continued rise in the number of children and adults living with autism, according to the Pennsylvania Autism Census Project Final Report released today by Governor Edward G. Rendell.

19 Nov 2009

MU occupational therapy professor says recovery from brain injuries can last a lifetime

Until recently, scientists believed that, following a stroke, a patient had about six months to regain any lost function. After that, patients would be forced to compensate for the lost function by focusing on their remaining abilities. Although this belief has been refuted, a University of Missouri occupational therapy professor believes that the current health system is still not giving patients enough time to recover and underestimating what the human brain can do given the right conditions.

18 Nov 2009

The Center for Modeling Optimal Outcomes discovers causal path of autism

During its research into the application of neuroscience in business, a New Jersey based think tank, The Center for Modeling Optimal Outcomes®, LLC (The Center) made an inadvertent and amazing discovery.

18 Nov 2009

Pet therapy can have a positive effect on patients’ physical and psychosocial well being

Adults who use pet therapy while recovering from total joint-replacement surgery require 50 percent less pain medication than those who do not. These findings were presented at the 18th Annual Conference of the International Society of Anthrozoology and the First Human Animal Interaction Conference (HAI) in Kansas City, Mo.

17 Nov 2009

UT Southwestern Medical Center awarded $42M for basic and patient-oriented research

UT Southwestern Medical Center has been awarded more than $42 million to date for basic and patient-oriented research from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the $787 billion stimulus package President Barack Obama signed into law in February.

13 Nov 2009

Oxytocin hormone affects behaviors, finds new study

A new study carried out at the University of Haifa has found that oxytocin, also known as the "love hormone", which affects behaviors such as trust, empathy and generosity, also affects opposite behaviors, such as jealousy and gloating.

12 Nov 2009

IACC to include vaccine research studies in the objectives of the updated Strategic Plan for Autism Research

Autism Speaks is encouraged by yesterday's decision of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) to include vaccine research studies in the objectives of the updated Strategic Plan for Autism Research. The new language, approved unanimously, calls for studies to determine if there are sub-populations that are more susceptible to environmental exposures such as immune challenges related to naturally occurring infections, vaccines or underlying immune problems.

12 Nov 2009

Children with autism have slower pupil responses to light change: Study

Autism affects 1 in 150 children today, making it more common than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined. Despite its widespread effect, autism is not well understood and there are no objective medical tests to diagnose it. Recently, University of Missouri researchers have developed a pupil response test that is 92.5 percent accurate in separating children with autism from those with typical development. In the study, MU scientists found that children with autism have slower pupil responses to light change.

11 Nov 2009

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment ineffective for children with autism

Research conducted by the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD), shines new light on the effects of a popular form of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) treatment for children with autism and related disorders. The "Randomized Trial of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Children with Autism" study reveals that HBOT, consisting of 24% oxygen delivered at 1.3 atmospheres of pressure, does not have a significant effect on symptoms of autism.

10 Nov 2009

Autism Spectrum Therapies approved to deliver ABA services to TRICARE military insurance beneficiaries

Autism Spectrum Therapies, an agency providing behavior therapy and other autism services in Southern California, has been approved to provide behavioral services for TRICARE military insurance beneficiaries. This designation makes AST eligible to deliver Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services to individuals with autism in military families in the San Diego area.

10 Nov 2009

Children with ASD have problem with handwriting: Study

Handwriting skills are crucial for success in school, communication, and building children's self-esteem. The first study to examine handwriting quality in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has uncovered a relationship between fine motor control and poor quality of handwriting in children with ASD, according to research published in the November 10, 2009, issue of Neurology-, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

10 Nov 2009

Children and young people with autism should be offered special teaching support

Teachers and parents must be vigilant in observing difficulties with language comprehension, reading and spelling in children and young people with autism, Asperger's syndrome and ADHD.

10 Nov 2009

Washington insurance program may be a national model, Massachusetts may expand autism services

News outlets report on health issues at the state level including a health insurance program in Washington State and a bill to increase coverage for autism services in Massachusetts.

10 Nov 2009

Children with autism may have lower quality handwriting, says study

Children with autism may have lower quality handwriting and trouble forming letters compared to children without autism, according to a study published in the November 10, 2009, print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

9 Nov 2009

Autism Consortium holds its fourth annual symposium to update on autism

The Autism Consortium, an innovative collaboration of researchers, clinicians, funders and families dedicated to catalyzing research and enhancing clinical care for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), held its fourth annual symposium on October 28th, 2009, at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

6 Nov 2009

$1.85 million grant to study how digital games can improve players' health behaviors and outcomes

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) today announced more than $1.85 million in grants for research that will offer unprecedented insight into how digital games can improve players' health behaviors and outcomes. With funding from RWJF's Health Games Research national program, nine research teams across the country will conduct extensive studies to discover, for example, how the popular dance pad video game Dance Dance Revolution might help Parkinson's patients reduce the risk of falling, how Wii Active might be most effectively implemented in high schools to help overweight students lose weight, how a mobile phone game with a breath interface might help smokers quit or reduce their tobacco use, or how facial recognition games might be designed to help people with autism learn to identify others' emotions.

From Evident Corporation - Life Sciences 6 Nov 2009

Study finds oral dimercaptosuccinic acid effective in treating children with autism

Two studies published by the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in the October issue of BMC Clinical Pharmacology investigated the use of oral dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), a prescription medicine approved by the FDA for treating lead poisoning, and used off-label in these studies for treating heavy metal toxicity in children with autism.

5 Nov 2009

Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital offers behavioral testing for children

Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital now provides neuropsychological assessments and testing for children ages 5 to 18 who are exhibiting behavioral issues or academic difficulties.

4 Nov 2009

International Omega-3 Awareness Day to educate public about proven health benefits of omega-3

Scientific evidence of the health benefits of omega-3's are now so firmly established that omega-3 expert Carol A. Locke, MD, with a team of world-renowned doctors, has spearheaded the first ever International Omega-3 Awareness Day on March 3rd, 2010. Learn more at www.Omega3Day.com.

4 Nov 2009

Maximum Potential's video-based ABA therapy program approved

Maximum Potential Group today announces that their video-based ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy program has now been endorsed by renowned autism expert Dr. James W. Partington, Ph.D., BCBA-D. Dr. Partington is the director of Behavior Analysts, Inc., and creator of the ABLLS(R)-R and the WebABLLS(R).

4 Nov 2009

Autism News and Research

Latest Autism News and Research

PA: First in nation to release statewide data on autism

MU occupational therapy professor says recovery from brain injuries can last a lifetime

The Center for Modeling Optimal Outcomes discovers causal path of autism

Pet therapy can have a positive effect on patients’ physical and psychosocial well being

UT Southwestern Medical Center awarded $42M for basic and patient-oriented research

Oxytocin hormone affects behaviors, finds new study

IACC to include vaccine research studies in the objectives of the updated Strategic Plan for Autism Research

Children with autism have slower pupil responses to light change: Study

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment ineffective for children with autism

Autism Spectrum Therapies approved to deliver ABA services to TRICARE military insurance beneficiaries

Children with ASD have problem with handwriting: Study

Children and young people with autism should be offered special teaching support

Washington insurance program may be a national model, Massachusetts may expand autism services

Children with autism may have lower quality handwriting, says study

Autism Consortium holds its fourth annual symposium to update on autism

$1.85 million grant to study how digital games can improve players' health behaviors and outcomes

Study finds oral dimercaptosuccinic acid effective in treating children with autism

Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital offers behavioral testing for children

International Omega-3 Awareness Day to educate public about proven health benefits of omega-3

Maximum Potential's video-based ABA therapy program approved

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

Autism News and Research

Latest Autism News and Research

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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