Posted by john.champaign on 09 Jul 2007 | Tagged as: Education, Treatments
Children with autism are often described as robotic: They are emotionless. They engage in obsessive, repetitive behavior and have trouble communicating and socializing.
Now, a humanoid robot designed to teach autistic children social skills has begun testing in British schools.
Posted by john.champaign on 27 Jun 2007 | Tagged as: Treatments, Research
Symptoms of mental retardation and autism have been reversed for the first time in laboratory mice.
US scientists created mice that showed symptoms of Fragile X Syndrome - a leading cause of mental retardation and autism in humans.
They then reversed symptoms of the condition by inhibiting the action of an enzyme in the brain.
Posted by Dr. Miranda Gabriel on 16 Jun 2007 | Tagged as: Treatments
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that results from an affliction in the central nervous system. The cause of autism, however, is debated and unknown at this time. It is estimated by the National Institute of Mental Health that about two to six out of every 1,000 children are born autistic.
Children with autism are often marked by a delay in the way they use language in social communication, social interaction with others, and their lack of symbolic or imaginary play. Autism may not be recognizable from outward appearance, so diagnosis comes from a physical and neurological examination and a full examination of the patient’s history.
Posted by Dr. Miranda Gabriel on 15 Jun 2007 | Tagged as: Conferences
The conference at the Community Church of the Nazarene in Angola begins at 8:30 a.m. with time to visit booths and have doughnuts and coffee. Speakers and questions and answers will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with information booths open from 1-2 p.m.
The church is at the corner of U.S. 20 and 200W, across from Sanborn’s. Registration is $5.
Posted by Dr. Miranda Gabriel on 14 Jun 2007 | Tagged as: Diagnosis
“We would have a roomful of kids, and he would be off in his own little corner of the world,'’ Dawson-Bonner remembers. “He didn’t engage.'’
Posted by Dr. Miranda Gabriel on 13 Jun 2007 | Tagged as: Conferences
The event will feature three keynote speakers, one for each “R.” Jon Baio, the Centers for Disease Control; David Morris, CEO of Habitat for Humanity; and Karen Simmons, CEO and founder of Autism Today and a parent of a child with ASD.
Posted by Dr. Miranda Gabriel on 12 Jun 2007 | Tagged as: Treatments
Jacob Brewer lines tigers, elephants, lions and other toy animals along the base of his dining room table.
Sometimes he even lines them up by colors. If his life’s in overload, organizing a plastic zoo is how the 4-year-old compensates. The menagerie adds structure and familiarity to his life.
He’s been organizing his toys since he was 1 1/2 years old. For his parents, Chris and Sarah Brewer, of Marseilles, the activity was an early indication their son was somehow different.
Chris suspected autism, but Sarah thought it was related to his seizures, because he also has epilepsy.
Posted by Dr. Miranda Gabriel on 11 Jun 2007 | Tagged as: Advice For Parents
Brenda Toth stopped living in denial when her son turned 3 years old. She knew her little boy wasn’t meeting his developmental milestones. He wasn’t speaking or responding when spoken to. His social interaction skills were poor.
But Cameron had been very sick during his first two years of life, and Toth blamed the illness for his delays. After tests ruled out hearing loss, her husband, Glenn, suspected something else was wrong.
One month after this third birthday, Cameron was diagnosed with autism.
Posted by Dr. Miranda Gabriel on 10 Jun 2007 | Tagged as: Diagnosis
How widespread is autism? And is the condition, which centers on characteristics such as the inability to form personal relationships, being properly diagnosed?
Posted by Dr. Miranda Gabriel on 09 Jun 2007 | Tagged as: Feel Good Stories
Jonathan Todd had every reason to feel like royalty at Rialto High School’s prom.
What made the moment special for Jonathan and his family is that he has a mild form of autism called Asperger’s syndrome. The neurobiological disorder can leave people who have high intelligence with deficient social and communication skills.
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