Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a term used to describe a range of serious neurodevelopment disorders. Key symptoms that begin within the first two to three years of life are social impairment, difficulty with communication, poor motor control, and repetitive behaviors. Difficulties with sleep and digestive problems, among other challenges, are also seen.
It is not uncommon for people with ASD to display special skills in the arts or cognitive areas.
Within the spectrum, autism is a severe form of ASD, while Asperger syndrome is a mild form. Other disorders that fall within ASD are Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS).
Recent increases in the incidence of ASD have caused alarm. Once rare, current estimates are that 1 in 88 young children have autism, with males four times as likely as females to receive the diagnosis.
Autism used to be considered untreatable, and therapies focused primarily on medications to control disruptive behaviors. Now, behavioral and biomedical treatments are available that can make a significant difference in the accomplishments and lifestyle of those with a diagnosis of ASD.
Related articles are shown below. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, you can search using the box at the upper right of the page or browse our forums.
Injectable methylcobalamin has been shown to improve the clinical status of patients through enhanced cell oxidative status and/or methylation capacity. In this study (2022), the efficiency of a carefully developed syrup form of methylcobalamin was […]
A large-scale study produced surprising results on how disturbed gut flora very early in life can result in autism and ADHD.
Sheila Rogers DeMare: Another newly found piece of the puzzle helps explain the worldwide rise in ADHD, autism, and related conditions. The puzzle doesn’t fit every situation, and no maternal guilt should be assigned or […]
Good news! The award-winning Autism Research Review quarterly newsletter, primarily a printed publication, is now available online for free. Our organization has supported their efforts for many years and welcomes this change, which allows broad […]
Not surprisingly, rates of significant emotional distress related to attending school are significantly elevated in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), according to a new study from the United Kingdom. The researchers also found that […]
More than thirty years ago, pioneering practitioners like Drs. Sidney Baker, William Crook, William Shaw, Doris Rapp, William Philpott, and Bernard Rimland proposed that a leaky gut or intestinal imbalances could cause brain inflammation resulting […]
The Autism Research Institute features free educational webinars. webinars. The first one in 2024 is featured here: Sensory considerations for social communications Available live 1 p.m. Eastern time (US), Wednesday January 17, 2024. (See below […]
A study released in early September indicated that aspartame (Nutrasweet) can cause cognitive disability in mice and this was in turn, could be passed to their offspring. That press release was quickly followed by an […]