http://www.autismhangout.com Ausitm Hangout Headlines Feed en-us Fri, 3 Feb 2012 11:24:00 CST Fri, 3 Feb 2012 11:24:00 CST cevans@autismhangout.com cevans@autismhangout.com http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/02/us-autism-idUSTRE8112A820120202 (Reuters Health) - Children born to a parent over age 35 are at greater risk for developing an autism spectrum disorder -- but the risk is the same whether just one or both parents are older, according to a new study of Danish families. Fri, 3 Feb 2012 11:24 CST cevans@autismhangout.com http://www.bucyrustelegraphforum.com/article/20120201/NEWS01/202010317/Professor-s-research-prodigies-autism-earns-acclaim?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE Ruthsatz said she believes child prodigies may hold the key to understanding the genetic cause of autism and -- just maybe -- how medicine can be developed to treat it. Ruthsatz has been awarded a $90,000 grant from the Marci and Bill Ingram Comprehensive Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders to collect DNA and explore that theory. Thu, 2 Feb 2012 05:58 CST cevans@autismhangout.com http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_778967.html The Asperger Initiative at Mercyhurst -- Asperger&#39s syndrome is a high-function disorder on the autism spectrum -- began in 2008, and is among the country&#39s most comprehensive. Young Pusateri, a senior majoring in history and anthropology, has a 3.48 grade-point average and is on track to become one of its first graduates this year. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:48 CST cevans@autismhangout.com http://www.theacorn.com/news/2012-01-26/Community/Autism_rates_expenses_are_up.html The U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates that one in every 110 American children has an autism spectrum disorder, representing a 600 percent increase in prevalence in the nation over the last two decades. Statistics also show that the number continues to grow at an average rate of about 13.5 percent annually across the nation. Sat, 28 Jan 2012 06:06 CST cevans@autismhangout.com http://news.cnet.com/8301-27083_3-57366949-247/autistic-kids-generally-shun-e-mail-and-chat/ Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) tend to spend a majority of their free time in front of a screen, but little if any of that time on social activities such as e-mail or chat, according to new research out of Washington University in St. Louis. Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:27 CST cevans@autismhangout.com http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/01/26/study-finds-early-signs-autism-in-baby-brains/ British researchers studied 104 babies at 6 to 10 months and then again at 3-years-old, and found that those who went on to develop autism had unusual patterns of brain activity in response to eye contact with another person. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:26 CST cevans@autismhangout.com http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2012/01/26/for-autism-inner-speech/14856/ Teaching kids with autism to talk things through in their heads could dramatically improve their ability to deal with everyday problems and increase their odds of living independently as adults, new research indicates. Most children learn to problem solve by talking out loud, but as they age, kids shift to talking in their heads to tackle potential hurdles. While individuals with autism have the ability to do this, they often don’t, researchers said this week in the journal Development and Psychopathology. And teaching children with autism to use so-called “inner speech” could make a big difference long-term, they said. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:43 CST cevans@autismhangout.com http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/24/why-the-definition-of-autism-matters/ What the new DSM proposes to do is make it harder to meet criteria for autism, so that probably the majority of people who fall on the mild end of what people often call simply “the spectrum” will now be declared non-autistic. Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:08 CST cevans@autismhangout.com http://www.columbiaspectator.com/2012/01/24/study-links-autism-intestinal-bacteria-levels After examining intestinal biopsies from his patients, Williams found that Sutterella bacteria existed in more than half of the children who had been diagnosed with autism. In comparison, Sutterella was not found in any normally developing children that also had gastrointestinal, or GI, disturbances. Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:06 CST cevans@autismhangout.com http://www.newswise.com/articles/breaking-down-autism-researcher-finds-children-with-autism-have-lower-levels-of-hdl Even though there were no major differences in what these children ate, those with autism had a lower omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acid ratio and lower levels of high density lipoprotein, more commonly known as HDL. For both levels, it’s often believed, the higher the better. HDL is commonly referred to as “good&#34 cholesterol. High levels of HDL seem to protect against heart attacks, while low levels increase the risk of heart disease. Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:05 CST cevans@autismhangout.com http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/childinmind/2012/01/the_autism_label_controversy_a.html By focusing the discussion on the question: &#34what are the diagnostic criteria for autism,&#34, we are failing to see the forest for the trees. The real question is &#34Why are we as a society willing to give the insurance industry so much control over our children&#39s lives?&#34 Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:02 CST cevans@autismhangout.com http://www.futurity.org/health-medicine/low-birth-weight-linked-to-autism-risk/ In a study of twins, lower birth weight more than tripled the risk for autism spectrum disorder in identical pairs, in which one twin had symptoms of the disorder and the other did not. Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:04 CST cevans@autismhangout.com http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2088876/Exposure-vitamin-D-lower-risk-mental-health-problems.html?ito=feeds-newsxml Children with low levels of vitamin D are more likely to suffer from depression, claim scientists. Those with the highest levels of the ‘sunshine vitamin’ have a 10 per cent lower risk of developing the mental health problem. Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:33 CST cevans@autismhangout.com http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46060802/ns/health-childrens_health/t/new-autism-definition-may-exclude-many-study-suggests/#.TxlwPpigqFh Proposed changes in the definition of autism would sharply reduce the skyrocketing rate at which the disorder is diagnosed and may make it harder for many people who would no longer meet the criteria to get health, educational and social services, a new analysis suggests. Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:47 CST cevans@autismhangout.com http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-finch/asperger-syndrome-marriage_b_1211295.html Learning as an adult that I fit the Asperger&#39s profile might have been shocking or unsettling. But it wasn&#39t. It was cathartic and eye-opening. I had always understood that I was different, and I had always felt that I was struggling with things that didn&#39t seem to be a challenge for other people, but I never knew why. With my diagnosis, I was given insight into how I work. I felt empowered and full of hope, which is a great feeling for anyone with such silly-looking thumbs. Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:21 CST cevans@autismhangout.com http://highlandpark.suntimes.com/news/10064116-418/some-employers-find-those-with-autism-especially-suited-for-jobs.html Moshe Weitzberg, director of operations, said Aspiritech has 14 employees, including his 32-year-old son, who has Asperger’s syndrome. His workers have the ability to focus and spot irregularities that other people would miss. They also deal with challenges related to their autism — some do not like noise or bright lights and many have anxiety issues. Aspiritech has an autism specialist who provides support that extends beyond the workplace. Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:58 CST cevans@autismhangout.com http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/health/your_health&id=8508126 &#34There&#39s some indication that in older children and adults with autism, they don&#39t pay the same degree of attention to people as they do to the objects and things in the background,&#34 said Mark Strauss, Ph.D., a psychologist. Scientists also look to see which side of an adult&#39s face babies focus on. Human brains are wired to look to the right. Studies have shown adults with autism don&#39t favor a side. Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:57 CST cevans@autismhangout.com http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/01/15/no-link-between-moms-smoking-and-autism/33690.html Smoking during pregnancy is not directly linked to autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in children, according to a large population-based study in Sweden. Sun, 15 Jan 2012 17:20 CST cevans@autismhangout.com http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/brain-and-behavior/articles/2012/01/10/autism-gastro-problems-may-be-linked-to-gut-bacteria TUESDAY, Jan. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Children with autism have bacteria in their gut that is different from the bacteria seen in kids who do not have the disorder, researchers have found. Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:54 CST cevans@autismhangout.com http://www.autismsupportnetwork.com/news/autism-and-wonderful-lie-37892342 It had been 12 years and never a lie, not one. How many parents can say that about their child? As Dr. House (from the TV show) would say, “Everybody lies.” Autistic children were at one time thought incapable of such stealth and critical thought. I found that was not the truth. Sometimes it takes a bit longer to learn how, but everybody lies - even those with autism. It took 12 years before I actually caught my autistic son, Matt, in a lie. Sun, 8 Jan 2012 15:39 CST cevans@autismhangout.com http://www.autismafter16.com/article/01-06-2012/autistics-do-it-better# Sex is a bit tricky for an undiagnosed autistic with sensory issues. I complained the whole time. “That feels weird … Your perfume is making me woozy … I can’t concentrate—the cat downstairs is eating too loud!” Eventually I gave up, crawled out of bed, and went to make a grilled cheese sandwich. My girlfriend broke up with me before the cheese had time to melt. I could not understand why she was upset. What did I do wrong this time? The whole evening was baffling. The grilled cheese was good though! Fri, 6 Jan 2012 08:03 CST cevans@autismhangout.com http://blog.sfgate.com/lshumaker/2012/01/05/thinking-person’s-guide-to-autism-the-book-weve-been-waiting-for/ Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism a one-stop resource for carefully curated, evidence-based information from autism parents, autistics, and autism professionals. The book has only been out for a few weeks and already been declared Book of the Year by Steve Silberman, senior writer for Wired magazine and autism/neurodiversity blogger for the Public Library of Science. Thu, 5 Jan 2012 15:18 CST cevans@autismhangout.com http://www.hepg.org/hel/article/521 Researchers document improvements for children with autism Thu, 5 Jan 2012 12:10 CST cevans@autismhangout.com http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2009/11/10/autism-moms-stress/6121/ Mothers of adolescents and adults with autism experience chronic stress comparable to combat soldiers and struggle with frequent fatigue and work interruptions, new research finds. These moms also spend significantly more time caregiving than moms of those without disabilities. Thu, 5 Jan 2012 06:11 CST cevans@autismhangout.com http://www.heraldsun.com/view/full_story/16975691/article-A-special-school-for-brains-wired-differently The school, which has the capacity for 40 students at each location, educates students via a digital learning platform in which each student has an individual laptop. That allows each student to learn at his or her own pace and level. With a 1-to-5 teacher-to-student ratio, teachers are free to give students one-on-one attention when they need it, Black said. When a student finishes with a lesson, regardless of how quickly he does so, the teacher feeds him another lesson. Wed, 4 Jan 2012 12:22 CST