Autism research is essential for us to better understand people with autism, meet their needs, and provide them with the highest quality of life possible. Due to early misconceptions about the condition, research on autism lags behind that of other psychiatric disorders and medical conditions, and it seems the more we discover about autism spectrum disorders, the more we realize we still have to learn.
While we still need to do more research, we know the more specific our research, the better we become at diagnosis and treatment – and as one clear finding to date confirms, the earlier the diagnosis and treatment, the better. Early detection can not only improve behaviors, but actually enhance brain function, and gives autistic individuals a much better chance at thriving as adults.
Recent News
The pace of research focused on autism is at an all-time high. Stay up-to-date with this sampling of important new findings emerging in the field, news items, and upcoming events.
Project AIM: Autism intervention meta-analysis for studies of young children
There are many interventions available for children with autism, but the effectiveness of these interventions is the subject of great debate. The researchers conducted a meta-analysis to summarize the effects of seven different types of intervention for children diagnosed with autism (up to 8 years old).
Language Predictors in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Many children with autism develop proficient verbal language skills, but some remain minimally verbal into adulthood. In this study, children with autism were assessed in preschool and again at school age to identify skills that predicted their language development.
How Settings Can Influence Repetitive Speech in ASD
The use of repetitive speech is common in individuals with autism, but little is known about factors that increase or decrease its use. Four categories of repetitive speech (delayed echolalia, immediate echolalia, vocal stereotypy, verbal stereotypy) were evaluated in 11 school-aged children with autism.
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