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Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD): Compendium Thread

A happier autism story:

How love of Billy the stray cat has finally brought four-year-old autistic boy out of his shell
By Liz Hull
PUBLISHED: 00:04, 16 June 2012

Even simple tasks used to be fraught with difficulty for Fraser Booth.
The four-year-old, who is autistic, easily became overwhelmed by everyday events, resulting in tears and temper tantrums.

Then Billy the stray cat came along. Abandoned by his previous owner and rescued from a boarded-up council house by a charity, he had not had the easiest start to life.

But since their first meeting, Fraser and Billy have been inseparable – and the moggy has helped bring the little boy out of his shell.
Now, whether it’s playtime, storytime or bedtime, Billy is there to offer a reassuring paw.
And he is the first to sense when Fraser is getting frustrated, calming him down with a cuddle or comforting purr.

Fraser’s mother Louise said: ‘If Fraser is around or playing in the garden, Billy is never far away. It is like he is watching Fraser and calming his behaviour.

etc... (with pics)

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z1xx3Xo5yN
 
To which I say 'awwww'. :)
 
A fascinating article.

Autism photographic competition winner

...

The competition shows how photography can be used to do far more than simply record a moment. "Judging this photo competition gave us an incredibly valuable glimpse of some of those special experiences and unique moments in time that mean so much to families whose lives are touched by autism," says photographer John Swannell, one of the judges. "I was delighted by the real feeling of positivity and hope that shone through in so many of the entries."

Another judge, Jay Blue, an amateur photographer and autistic writer and poet adds, "I am really pleased that so many of the entries in this competition challenged some of the common misconceptions that go with autism. These photos will strike a chord with so many people whose lives are touched by autism. The entries illustrate emotion, friendship, joy and, ultimately, humanity, it its many guises."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-18489694
 
A is now for Autism with Aspergers as part of the spectrum.

Asperger's syndrome dropped from psychiatrists' handbook the DSM
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/ ... iatric-dsm
DSM-5, latest revision of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, merges Asperger's with autism and widens dyslexia category
S
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 2 December 2012 03.20 GMT
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Gary McKinnon, the British hacker who is diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. The condition is to be removed from American psychiatric handbook the DSM and its symptoms covered by autism spectrum disorder. Photograph: Andy Rain/Corbis

Asperger's syndrome is to be dropped from the psychiatrists' Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders, the American publication that is one of the most influential references for the profession around the world.

The term "Asperger's disorder" will not appear in the DSM-5, the latest revision of the manual, and instead its symptoms will come under the newly added "autism spectrum disorder", which is already used widely. That umbrella diagnosis will include children with severe autism, who often do not talk or interact, as well as those with milder forms.

The British hacker Gary McKinnon is diagnosed with Asperger's and it contributed to a government decision not to extradite him from Britain to the US on cybercrime charges.

The DSM is used in a number of countries to varying degrees. Psychiatrists in some countries including Britain use the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) published by the World Health Organisation or a combination of both handbooks.

In other changes to the DSM, abnormally bad and frequent temper tantrums will be diagnosed as DMDD, meaning disruptive mood dysregulation disorder. Supporters say it will address concerns about too many children being misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder and treated with powerful psychiatric drugs.

The term "gender identity disorder", for children and adults who strongly believe they were born the wrong gender, is being replaced with "gender dysphoria" to remove the stigma attached to the word "disorder". Supporters equated the change with removing homosexuality as a mental illness in the diagnostic manual decades ago.

The revisions come in the first major rewrite in nearly 20 years of the diagnostic guide used by psychiatrists in the US and other countries. The changes were approved on Saturday.

Full details of all the revisions will come in May 2013 when the American Psychiatric Association's new diagnostic manual is published. The changes will affect the diagnosis and treatment of millions of children and adults worldwide, as well as medical insurance and special education services.

The aim was not to expand the number of people diagnosed with mental illness but to ensure those affected were more accurately diagnosed so they could get the most appropriate treatment, said Dr David Kupfer, the University of Pittsburgh psychiatry professor who chaired the revision committee.

One of the most hotly argued changes was how to define the various ranges of autism. Some on the panel opposed the idea of dropping the specific diagnosis for Asperger's. People with that disorder often have high intelligence and vast knowledge on narrow subjects but lack social skills. Some Asperger's families opposed any change, fearing their children will lose a diagnosis and no longer be eligible for special services, but experts have said this will not be the case.

People with dyslexia also were closely watching for the update. Many with the reading disorder did not want their diagnosis dropped, and it will not be. Instead, the new manual will have a broader learning disorder category to cover several conditions including dyslexia, which causes difficulty understanding letters and recognising written words.

The shorthand name for the new edition, the organisation's fifth revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, is DSM-5. Group leaders say specifics will not be disclosed until the manual is published but they confirmed some changes. A 2000 edition of the manual made minor changes but the last major edition was published in 1994.
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I found an autism-related story in the news today. Looking for somewhere to post it, I found this old one-post wonder - started by me! Although related, the two stories are different, however:

Grandparents 'may relay autism risk to grandchildren'
By Smitha Mundasad, Health reporter, BBC News

The risk of developing autism may be passed on through - and not just to - future generations, researchers say.
The international study of almost 6,000 people suggests older fathers are more likely to have grandchildren with autism than their younger counterparts.
The mechanism is unclear but it is thought they may transmit "silent mutations" to their grandchildren.

But experts have urged caution, stressing autism is the result of many different factors.
The study, looking at people with the condition, is published in the journal Jama Psychiatry.

According to the National Autistic Society, more than one in every 100 people in the UK have the condition.
Previous studies suggested older fathers may be at greater risk of having children with autism than younger dads.

But the team of UK, Swedish and Australian researchers say this is one of the first pieces of evidence to show the risk can be passed on through - rather than just straight to - future generations.

The "silent mutations" - changes in genetic material - are likely to have no obvious impact on older fathers' own children, but they may build up through subsequent generations, or interact with other genes and environmental factors, to increase the chance of their grandchildren developing the condition, the researchers say.

Using national databases from Sweden they studied almost 6,000 people diagnosed with the condition and more than 30,000 without, tracking their parents' and grandparents' ages.
They found men who had a daughter when aged 50 or older were 1.79 times more likely to have a grandchild with autism, compared to men who fathered children when aged between 20-24.
And those who had a son when 50 years of age or older were 1.67 times more likely to have a grandchild with the condition.

But they say this study should not discourage older people from having children as though the risk is increased, it still remains small.
Co-author of the study, Dr Avi Reichenberg from King's College Institute of Psychiatry, told the BBC: "It is about choices. If you choose to have a child at an old age there might be consequences. This is something everyone should consider.

"Unfortunately we can't put exact figures on this risk yet. But most children born with older fathers and grandfathers grow up fine.
"And as scientists this type of information helps open doors to understanding more about the condition."

Caroline Hattersley, of The National Autistic Society, said: "While this research is useful in aiding our understanding of autism's complex causes, it should be treated with caution.
"Autism is thought to be the result of many different underlying physical and genetic factors.
"The study is not definitive, as we know that many people who had children at a young age also have grandchildren with the condition. We therefore urge parents and those thinking of starting a family not to be concerned about the findings."

Dr Terry Brugha, professor of psychiatry at the University of Leicester who was not involved in the study, said: "This is a solid piece of work and the findings are plausible. But as a grandparent or parent-to-be this is not something to be overly concerned about.
"We are at the early stages of research and this study gives us a slightly deeper understanding of what is going on in the background."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21857403
 
Interesting, this is not from a slash welfare angle; rather it is the opinion of an Autistic Professor.

Children with autism ‘must learn to work’
Animal behaviour expert, who has autism, addresses veterinarian seminar in Dublin
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/c ... -1.1350614


Animal behaviour expert Dr Temple Grandin, an advocate for those with autism, said she was seeing “too many kids that are fully verbal that aren’t learning how to work”. Photograph: Alan Betson
Joanne Hunt

Sat, Apr 6, 2013, 06:00

Children with autism must be taught how to work, one of the world’s best-known scholars with autism said in Dublin yesterday.

Dr Temple Grandin, an animal behaviour expert who has designed humane handling systems for half the cattle-processing facilities in the US and Canada, was a guest speaker at the All-Ireland State Veterinarians’ Scientific Conference.

Dr Grandin, who is also an advocate for those with autism, said she was seeing “too many kids that are fully verbal that aren’t learning how to work”.
Acknowledging that autism was a wide spectrum from Steve Jobs to Einstein to those who would remain non-verbal, she said for those who were able, “there’s a discipline of work I think these kids need to learn”.

“I don’t like it when nine-year-olds walk up to me and they want to tell me about their autism. I want to hear about their science project or their history project or the art they’ve done. Things that they’ve done that they can turn into a career.”

Teased at school for behaviour classmates found strange, Dr Grandin (65), now a professor of animal science at Colorado State University became “a horse fanatic” visiting her aunt’s farm as a teen. “I would rather see a kid get fixated on something they can turn into a career rather than getting fixated on his autism,” she said.

The professor said it was her ability to “think in pictures” that led to her career in improving the welfare of animals at the point of slaughter. “When I was younger, I didn’t know that everybody didn’t think in pictures . . . I didn’t understand why people thought it was strange to be looking at what cattle were looking at.”

A meat industry consultant since the 1970s, she told delegates “animals going into slaughter are afraid of little things people don’t notice”.

Reflections from wet floors or metal surfaces, people standing in front of them, shadows and changing floor surfaces all caused animals unnecessary anxiety, making their movement through processing plants slower, she said.
Asked if it was contradictory to be an animal welfare advocate while advising slaughterhouses, she said it was important animals had a decent life.
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She's right. There are so many talented autistic people out there who are going to waste because of obsession with a medical diagnosis.
 
Rise of the autistic workforce
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn2 ... force.html?
17:21 24 May 2013 by Hal Hodson

Are we on the cusp of an autistic revolution? German software giant SAP has declared that it intends to gain "a competitive advantage" over its rivals by actively employing people with autism spectrum disorder.

We are seeing the rise of autism, says Ari Ne'eman, president of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network in Washington DC and a member of the US National Council on Disability. Indeed, while conditions like autism have historically hindered jobseekers, several global companies have now caught on to the idea of utilising the particular skill set this section of society can offer.

SAP announced last week that it will employ 650 people with autism by 2020. This is approximately 1 per cent of its total workforce, which roughly reflects the frequency of autism in the general population. It will work with Danish company Specialisterne, a consultancy that employs software testers and programmers who have autism.

Greater acceptance

While the move is a positive one for many, it is important to note that autism exists on a spectrum, and many people who have the condition would not find such jobs suitable. Neither should it diminish the need for more research. It does however signal a greater acceptance of autism within society.

SAP's move was sparked by successful results from employing a small group of people with autism in India as software testers. It is now expanding its autistic workforce in Ireland, Germany and the US. "People with autism tend to be really good at identifying mistakes and sensing patterns, and turned out to be very good matches for software testing," says SAP spokeswoman Robin Meyerhoff.

It is the largest company ever to make such an undertaking. Ne'eman calls it a tremendous step forward. "The specific commitment and target for hiring is really quite significant and we hope to see other companies replicate this," he says.

In fact, SAP is not alone. Ne'eman has worked with US finance company Freddie Mac for the past two years to help it hire interns with autism with a view to creating permanent positions.

Suzanne Richards, Freddie Mac's vice-president of diversity, says the move has involved figuring out how to adapt the working environment to suit the needs of "this uniquely talented pool of people". She says that their focus and mathematical ability was very attractive, but that those skills came in a different package. Physical changes to the office environment were necessary, as well as behavioural ones (see box, below).

But employees with autism bring more to the table than good concentration. Benedetto De Martino at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena has shown that people with autism make better decisions than "neurotypicals" when it comes to making a rational choice. They are less swayed by emotion.

People with autism are often able to handle large amounts of information at one time, too. Laurent Mottron, who researches autism at the University of Montreal in Quebec, Canada, says that one member of his group, Michelle Dawson, can handle a huge library of literature. "She has 8000 papers on her computer, and can summarise and compare all of them," he says. "I can't handle even a tenth of that."

Positive traits

Dawson herself says that her research has turned up a whole host of positive autistic traits which are often treated as negatives by default. "This goes against the usual clichés about autistic strengths being predictably narrow and confined to specific areas," she says.

Mottron agrees that the benefits of autism could be applied to other roles. For example, many people with the condition do not try to rank potential solutions to problems according to plausibility. "Sometimes when you look for a fault in something you can't have a strategic approach. A counter-intuitive way to solve a problem may be better."

Society at large benefits when we create workplaces and other social environments which let people make use of what they're good at, says Ne'eman "instead of focusing on fixing what other people have a problem with".

"Success in corporate America is really changing," adds Richards. "Autism is such an opportunity, but unless we foster a very broad definition of success, we're not going to be able to take advantage of it. And we'd be short-sighted if we didn't."

Working in an autism-oriented office
Tilman Höffken is a marketing manager at Auticon, a German company which employs consultants with autism as software testers. He lays out life in the office.

"It seems like a normal work environment, but if you look closely, it is rather pure. There are very few things which could interrupt you, which make noise. There are lamps that many of the consultants don't like to use, so it's also a bit darker than a normal office.

You have to be very direct and straight in your orders, and you can't use metaphor or simile in your speech. Some of our consultants don't like to shake hands. It's a small thing, but it's important to understand these things in order to work well as a team.

Our consultants are very honest. They just list the mistakes you've made. If it's not what you're used to, it could seem very rude. But it's actually quite charming, and very efficient.

Feedback from clients is positive. We work quickly, that's what we hear. One consultant was working with a customer and they gave him an issue to handle in eight days. He solved it in four.

Our consultants are able to make connections very quickly, to look at code, the background which is implemented with it and see the mistakes in the whole structure. What I hear from some is that they see the world as a structure and can spot the folds in it.

For me personally, the biggest challenge was learning to speak directly and straight, without 'woulds' and 'coulds'. It's not what you're used to in other offices, but it works really well.
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Mexican man with Asperger's syndrome wins court battle
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-24556860

Ricardo Aldair, May 13

Ricardo Aldair began his legal case two years ago

A 25-year-old Mexican with the autistic condition Asperger's has won the right to make key decisions about his life without parental consent.

The Supreme Court ruled in favour of Ricardo Aldair by four votes to one.

Mr Aldair said that Mexican legislation violated the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

It banned him from doing simple tasks by himself, such as applying for a passport, because of his condition.

A judge will be appointed to agree which decisions Mr Aldair will be allowed to make without the consent of a parent or guardian.

The groundbreaking ruling is expected to have wider implications for the rights of people with autism in Latin America, says the BBC's Will Grant.

'Great step forward'
"I want to be allowed to decide what to do, where to go, where and with whom I want to live or travel, where to work or study," Mr Aldair told the Mexican Supreme Court.

Ricardo Aldair, May 13
Mr Aldair's mother, Leticia Robles, supported him in the battle for equal rights
Mexican legislation makes straightforward tasks, such as buying a mobile phone, enrolling in university or applying for a driving licence, very difficult for people with Asperger's syndrome or other forms of autism.

Mr Aldair said all papers had to be signed by his parents or legal guardians.

He began his battle two years ago and has been supported in his fight by a non-profit organisation.

"All we wanted was for Ricardo's own free will to come first, and now the court has recognised that," his lawyer, Andres Gomez Montt, told the BBC.

Mr Aldair said he wanted to read the full court ruling before making further comments, but expressed his satisfaction at the decision.

"They have asserted our rights and I believe this is a great step forward," he said.

Mexican legislation on people with disabilities was drafted with the intention of protecting them, by taking away legal responsibility for their actions, but Mr Aldair's mother says the law is out of date.

"Many children have different levels of disability. Some need more support, some need less. This should be about giving to each one what they need," Leticia Robles told BBC Mundo earlier this year.

The UN's World Health Organization describes autism spectrum disorders as "a group of complex brain development disorders".

It affects one in each 160 children around the world on average, the WHO says.

"These disorders [which include Asperger's syndrome] are characterized by difficulties in social interaction and communication and a restricted and repetitive repertoire of interests and activities."
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Boyle reveals Asperger's diagnosis
12:10am Monday 9th December 2013 in News © Press Association 2013 .

Susan Boyle has revealed she has been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, after years of believing she had suffered slight brain damage at birth.

The former Britain's Got Talent singing star - who has gone on to have hits around the world - told of her relief at having a proper explanation for "emotional outbursts" and "acute anxiety" that have afflicted her throughout her life.
Susan, 52, went on: "Doctors told my parents that I was starved of oxygen at birth and that this had caused me brain damage, leaving me with learning difficulties and a lower than average IQ.

"At school I was pushed aside as if I didn't matter, while the brighter pupils got all the attention. I was mocked and bullied.
"As a result, I spent my whole life in a bubble, felt inferior to others and had problems forming proper relationships."

Asperger's is a form of autism which typically means sufferers struggle with their emotions and have difficulty in social situations, often unable to pick up on non-verbal cues.
Susan has had difficulty playing live dates in the past because of anxiety problems which she now believes are as a result of her recently diagnosed condition.

She told Hello! magazine: "Now that I know the correct reason why, I understand myself better and can move on. It feels as if an enormous weight has been lifted."
"The message that I hope my revelation will give others is, if I can do it, so can you. No matter what your condition, you can do whatever you want."

Mark Lever, chief executive of The National Autistic Society, said: "Asperger syndrome is a form of autism, which affects the way a person communicates with, and relates to, others.
"Diagnosis can be a critical milestone for people with the condition, which, as Susan said, can be a relief, providing an explanation for years of feeling 'different'. It can also offer a gateway to identifying appropriate support, and without it many people may find it difficult to access the help they need.
"By revealing her diagnosis Susan has played an important role in bringing the issue of autism to the nation's attention. Autism can have a profound and sometimes devastating effect on individuals and families, but public understanding and support can make a huge difference."

http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/10 ... is/?ref=mr
 
‘Burden on Australia’: Immigrant family fights deportation over son’s autism
Published time: December 14, 2013 14:39
http://rt.com/news/australia-immigrant- ... ation-247/

Dr Siuly Kabir (R) and Dr Enamul Kabir (L) with son Srijon (C) (Image from facebook.com @siuly.kabir)Dr Siuly Kabir (R) and Dr Enamul Kabir (L) with son Srijon (C) (Image from facebook.com @siuly.kabir)

A professional immigrant family in Australia faces deportation because their son has been diagnosed with autism, even though the parents are prepared to pay the extra cost for the child's special schooling.

The Kabir’s pursuit of a better life in Australia from their native Bangladesh appears to be an immigration success story: Enamul Kabir is a doctor of mathematics and his wife, Siuly, is a doctor of biomedical engineering. Residents of Brisbane, they have lived in Australia for five years and never fail to pay their taxes, they say.

However, their eight-year-old son, Srijon, has been diagnosed with autism and for that reason the Kabirs may be sent packing back to Bangladesh.

Enamul and Siuly Kabir had their application for permanent residency turned down because their son Srijon's condition could "likely result in a significant cost to the Australian community in the areas of health care and community services," The Australian newspaper reported.

Enamul Kabir insists his son Srijon will not be a burden on Australia.

“The last report from the doctor mentioned he has moderate autism and is improving and also mentioned now he is getting support but in future may not need any support,” Enamul Kabir told World News Australia (WNA).

“First of all he doesn’t require any medication and therapy, [the] only support he requires is special schooling, and we are very happy to pay his special school fees if we get permanent residency,” he said.

The Kabir’s fear what will happen to Srijon if they are deported back to Bangladesh, where there is no special schooling or support for children with autism.

The possibility that Srijon – and other immigrant children like him - may require expensive, long-term medical care, paid for by taxpayer money, is exactly what Australian officials are seeking to avoid.

“Before somebody wants to migrate to Australia they have to prove they’re not going to be a drain on our health system and a medical officer basically calculates how much this is going to cost our health system,” said Dr Susan Harris-Rimmer of the Asia Pacific College of Diplomacy at the Australian National University.

“So the reason a lot of kids get caught is because they calculate it over their lifetime, and they don’t take into account whether you’re going to use the services or not.”

Once the medical care exceeds the 200 thousand dollar [Australian dollars = approximately 180,000 US dollars] threshold the amount of care is deemed “a burden” on Australia and the individual’s application to stay in the country is rejected.

Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrison (AFP Photo / William West)Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrison (AFP Photo / William West)

However, many people say the office of Immigration Minister Scott Morrison should exercise extreme discretion in this case, considering that the Kabirs are contributing something positive to Australian society, as well as the economy.
The Kabirs are now awaiting a decision from Mr. Morrison, who can personally intervene on behalf of the family.

"There is discretion on the part of the minister that on the grounds of compassionate circumstances he can reverse the decision of the tribunal," Andrew Rouyanian, the lawyer representing the Kabirs, told The Australian. "Srijon has been here for five or so years. He's had the benefit of a special school and his doctors say his condition is improving. One doctor the family saw said if they were thrown out and sent back to Bangladesh, then he'll be lost for life."

A spokesperson for Morrison said the minister was "waiting for a submission to be prepared for his consideration" by the Immigration Department.

A 2010 parliamentary investigation into immigration recommended a “net benefit” test be used in cases like the Kabirs, including what skills the migrants can offer.

Immigration policy has become a hot topic in Australia, which has become a popular destination for asylum seekers. In fact, the problem is so bad that Australia last month gave Sri Lanka a gift of two patrol boats to aid its efforts in stopping refugees heading to Australia.

‘Not a burden to society’
Enamul Kabir, who is employed at the University of Queensland, says he has contributed a fair share to Australia during his time in the country.

“When I came here as a student I was working as an associate lecturer at the University of Southern Queensland, and for more than the last two years I’m working full-time [sic], I’m paying tax to the government,” he said.

Srijon Kabir (Image from facebook.com @siuly.kabir)Srijon Kabir (Image from facebook.com @siuly.kabir)

“For example in the last financial year I paid $18,000 in tax, so yes I’m contributing to the economy of this country and as well I’m helping researchers, students and academics who need help with statistics, so I’m contributing in that way as well.”

The Kabirs hope their professional skills, which are in short supply at present in Australia, will be an incentive to the government to allow them to remain in the country.

“At the moment there is a really big reliance of foreign workers, we really need to build up the skills in Australia, and meet that with domestic supply, but at the moment we need the supply internationally,” Professor Kerrie Mengersen, the former president of the Statistical Society of Australia, told WNA.

“So there’s a huge demand in Australia because there’s [sic] industries and businesses that realize they need data analysis, modeling, prediction, the advent of big data, different kinds of data, and there’s not enough people coming through from universities and schools doing good maths and stats,” the professor added.

The Kabir family's plight made headlines when a former colleague of Enamul Kabir, Christine McDonald, created a petition on the website change.org. In four weeks it has attracted 24,000 signatures. At the time of writing (Saturday December 14), it was just 100 signatures shy of the 25,000 needed to qualify as a petition to the government.
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Autistic behaviours linked to banned pesticide
March 21st, 2014 in Autism spectrum disorders /
autism

Quinn, an autistic boy, and the line of toys he made before falling asleep. Repeatedly stacking or lining up objects is a behavior commonly associated with autism. Credit: Wikipedia.

Quinn, an autistic boy, and the line of toys he made before falling asleep. Repeatedly stacking or lining up objects is a behavior commonly associated with autism. Credit: Wikipedia.

(Medical Xpress)—A new study co-authored by a Simon Fraser University researcher finds the children of pregnant women exposed to high levels of a flame retardant and a banned pesticide are more likely to exhibit autistic-like behaviours.

The flame retardant is PBDE-28. Chlordane is the banned pesticide. It contains the chemical trans-nonachlor, which this study links to autistic-like behaviours.

Previous studies have linked changes in children's brain development to their mothers' exposure to hormone-disrupting environmental chemicals. But this study is one of only a few to look specifically at whether chemical exposure contributes to autistic behaviours.

Bruce Lanphear, an SFU health scientist involved in this study published online in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, says: "This type of study is critical to screening the myriad chemicals that pregnant women and children are exposed to, and to identifying the ones that elevate a child's risk of developing autism."

April 2 is World Autism Day. Autism now affects one in 88 children and one in 54 boys, worldwide.

Scientists suspect that hormones may play a role in autism because boys are four times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with the disorder, and sex hormones are known to modify brain development.

In this latest study, researchers tested urine and blood samples from 175 pregnant women in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. On average, the pregnant women had 44 suspected hormone-disrupting chemicals in their blood or urine.

When their children turned four or five, their mothers were asked to rate their behaviours on a scale of social responsiveness, such as how frequently they make eye contact when spoken to or how well they play with others. Higher scores mean more autistic behaviours.

Children whose mothers had the highest levels of PBDE-28 scored an average of 2.5 points higher on the scale than children whose mothers had the lowest exposures. Children whose mothers had the highest levels of trans-nonachlor scored an average of 4.1 points higher.

The increase in autism-like behaviours linked to the two chemicals was subtle, and the study doesn't prove that they are tied to the autistic behaviours.

Most children scored between 30 and 90 on the scale, with scores higher than 60 indicating significant deficiencies in social behaviour. Children, on average, scored 51, while 22 kids, about 12 per cent, scored higher than 60.
The researchers did not account for factors such as genetics or other contaminants, such as lead, that harm brain development. Nor did they examine exposures or factors after birth.

But Lanphear and his collaborators in this study acknowledge that more research is necessary to investigate the link between autism and exposure to a now banned pesticide.

More information: Paper: ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1307261/

Provided by Simon Fraser University

"Autistic behaviours linked to banned pesticide." March 21st, 2014. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-03-a ... icide.html
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Half of All Children Will Be Autistic by 2025, Warns Senior Research Scientist at MIT

Why? Evidence points to glyphosate toxicity from the overuse of Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide on our food.

For over three decades, Stephanie Seneff, PhD, has researched biology and technology, over the years publishing over 170 scholarly peer-reviewed articles[1]. In recent years she has concentrated on the relationship between nutrition and health, tackling such topics as Alzheimer’s, autism, and cardiovascular diseases, as well as the impact of nutritional deficiencies and environmental toxins on human health.

At a conference last Thursday, in a special panel discussion about GMOs, she took the audience by surprise when she declared, “At today’s rate, by 2025, one in two children will be autistic.” She noted that the side effects of autism closely mimic those of glyphosate toxicity, and presented data showing a remarkably consistent correlation [2] between the use of Roundup on crops (and the creation of Roundup-ready GMO crop seeds) with rising rates of autism. Children with autism have biomarkers indicative of excessive glyphosate, including zinc and iron deficiency, low serum sulfate, seizures, and mitochondrial disorder.

A fellow panelist reported [3] that after Dr. Seneff’s presentation, “All of the 70 or so people in attendance were squirming, likely because they now had serious misgivings about serving their kids, or themselves, anything with corn or soy, which are nearly all genetically modified and thus tainted with Roundup and its glyphosate.” ...

http://www.anh-usa.org/half-of-all-...warns-senior-research-scientist-at-mit/print/
 
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/glyphosate-the-new-bogeyman/

"Conclusion
Dr. Seneff gives every indication of being an anti-GMO ideologue. She is not a biologist, but rather is a computer scientist, and yet she is being presented as an expert. She has also not conducted any original research, but is spreading fears about glyphosate based on pure speculation, bad science and bad logic.

Meanwhile, numerous published systematic reviews show clear evidence that glyphosate has very low toxicity. More careful study when it comes to any agent being used as heavily as glyphosate is always welcome. Science is complicated, and it is always a good idea to consider factors that may have been previously missed. However, failure to show any adverse effect from glyphosate in epidemiological studies is very reassuring. Given its widespread use, any adverse effect must be tiny or non-existent to be missed by the evidence we have so far.

The evidence, however, will not stop ideologues from cherry picking, misusing evidence, presenting pure speculation as if it were evidence, assuming causation from correlation, and generally fearmongering about a safe chemical in order to grind their ideological axe"
 
Dr.Seneff does not seem to be au fait with the latest research which suggests that autism is an actual neurological condition, i.e. autistic people have brains that are different to those of neurotypicals. Just as the MMR vaccine doesn't cause autism - but it is a correlation that some children were diagnosed with autism after receiving the vaccine ( as symptoms usually start to become more obvious at the same time as the vaccine is administered ), I doubt glyphosates cause autism.
I hate sloppy news reporting and sloppy science. Correlation does not establish cause and effect, e.g. yes some people do go on to develop the flu after getting the vaccination, but the vaccine did not cause it. However, as the latter is a reason for one of my colleagues ( also a social scientist ) refusing the vaccine for her child, I don't suppose there is much hope *sigh*.
 
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I was a bit dubious myself, wanted to gauge the reaction here. Not all GMO is evil but some of the corporations are and factor in the cost of possible cases they will face.
 
Looks like pants to me :) A strong overlap does not mean causation and having some of the symptoms does not mean a positive diagnosis.

But then, what would I know.... :rolleyes:

Just as a note, the latest DMV diagnostic criteria mean that asperger syndrome is no longer a possible outcome. As we tend to follow the DMV a couple of years later it will probably come here. As an activist (caveat lector) I like the change: I find I have more in common with "autistics" than I do with "neurotyps" when it comes down to the way I perceive, experience, receive sensory data and above all process it. There is no such thing as "mild autism" although people claim to have it, often as a way to try to excuse their social failings. There is def such a thing as "mild autism as perceived by the NTs" who think that because /they/ can't see the autism at work it isn't happening. People try to act normal and to fit it - and much mental ill health comes of it :(
 
Although we tend to use more of the ICD10 in this country, DMSV and its new classification is indeed in use in the UK too. Interestingly the amount of disorders included in each new DMS increases with each publication. My particular favourite new inclusion is oppositional defiant disorder http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/oppositional-defiant-disorder - that's almost every teenager I know. What I dislike about the DSM is that it pathologises almost any behaviour, and according to it most of us are mentally ill in some way or another!
 
Loquaciousness said:
Although we tend to use more of the ICD10 in this country, DMSV and its new classification is indeed in use in the UK too. Interestingly the amount of disorders included in each new DMS increases with each publication. My particular favourite new inclusion is oppositional defiant disorder http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/oppositional-defiant-disorder - that's almost every teenager I know. What I dislike about the DSM is that it pathologises almost any behaviour, and according to it most of us are mentally ill in some way or another!
Click to expand...


Everything you say here is TRUE! :D
 
A new study suggests that not only having pet dogs in the home, but also living with cats, rabbits and other animals as pets may help children with autism improve their social skills.

New research suggests living with any kind of pet is linked to increased social skills in children with autism.
Previous studies show that pets encourage social interaction, and there have been reports of dogs helping children with autism develop their social skills. But before this new study, from a researcher the University of Missouri (MU), nobody had shown this might also true of other types of pet.

Dr. Gretchen Carlisle, research fellow in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine's Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction (ReCHAI), says when pets are present in the home, the classroom, or other social setting, children tend to interact and talk to each other more.

The pets serve as "social lubricants," she explains, noting that this increase in social interaction when pets are around also appears to be true of children with autism. This could account for the increased assertiveness she found in autistic children who had pets living at home.

"Kids with autism don't always readily engage with others," says Dr. Carlisle, "but if there's a pet in the home that the child is bonded with and a visitor starts asking about the pet, the child may be more likely to respond." ...

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/287520.php
 
Why debunked autism treatment fads persist
Date:
February 26, 2015

Source:
Emory Health Sciences

Summary:
The communication struggles of children with autism spectrum disorder can drive parents and educators to try anything to understand their thoughts, needs and wants. Authors describe a litany of treatments for autism that have been attempted with little or no success over the years, including gluten- and casein-free diets, antifungal interventions, chelation therapy, magnetic shoe inserts, hyperbaric oxygen sessions, weighted vests, bleach enemas, sheep-stem-cell injections and many more.

http://tinyurl.com/pv4vss3
 
Is that happening in the same places where they pray away the gay?
 
In Elvis Presley's last film (as an actor), Change of Habit, he cures an autistic child by yelling at it.
 
GNC said:
In Elvis Presley's last film (as an actor), Change of Habit, he cures an autistic child by yelling at it.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately for all autistic people worldwide, Elvis has indeed left the building - so no cure is available these days.
 
Genes linked with a greater risk of developing autism may also be associated with higher intelligence, a study suggests. Researchers have found new evidence linking genetic factors associated with autism to better cognitive ability in people who do not have the condition.

The relationship between autism and intelligence is not clear, researchers say. Although up to 70 per cent of individuals with autism have an intellectual disability, some people with the disorder have relatively well-preserved, or even higher than average, non-verbal intelligence, the team says.

Autism is a developmental disability that can cause significant language and speech difficulties. Non-verbal intelligence enables people to solve complex problems using visual and hands-on reasoning skills requiring little or no use of language.

Researchers at the Universities of Edinburgh and Queensland analysed almost 10,000 people recruited from the general population of Scotland. Individuals were tested for general cognitive ability and had their DNA analysed. ...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/03/150310105232.htm
 
The number of U.S. school children placed in special education programs due to autism more than tripled from 2000 to 2010, to nearly 420,000. But a new study argues much of that increase likely came as educators swapped one diagnosis for another. The overall percentage of kids diagnosed with a collection of brain development problems that includes autism remained unchanged, suggesting that children who used to be labeled with conditions such as “intellectual disability” were in fact autistic.

“If you asked me, ‘Is there a real increase in the prevalence of autism?’ maybe there is, but probably much lower than the reported magnitude,” says Santhosh Girirajan, a geneticist at Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), University Park.

In the new study, Girirajan and colleagues combed through data collected in each state for approximately 6.2 million U.S. school children with disabilities who are enrolled in special education programs. The information is collected each year under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Based on his or her diagnosis, each child was assigned to one of 13 broader categories, ranging from autism to physical challenges such as blindness. ...

http://news.sciencemag.org/health/2015/07/autism-rates-are-it-really-rise
 
Removing barriers for autistic workers
Submitted by Matthew on 18 May, 2016 - 12:09

autism-in-the-workplace-cover.png


Cathy Nugent reviews Autism Equality in the Workplace: Removing barriers and challenging discrimination by Janine Booth.
Available to buy online here.

This is not a book of advice for autistic people on how to adapt to work or how to socialise with colleagues. There are other books and resource that do that.

This is a book, based on many interviews with people with autism, as well as the author’s own experiences, which says employers should remove barriers that autistic people face at work. As Janine argues, “if we wait for employers to make their workplaces autism friendly voluntarily we will be waiting a long time — far longer than a fair society would expect anyone to wait for progress and equality.”

Not least because some autistic people need a good deal of support and employers just don’t do “support”! Janine advocates a political goal — wider democratically-organised public ownership of industries and services, where equality and inclusion for all is at the heart of work organisation. But she also recognises we need to mobilise our labour movement to fight for this goal, and in the meantime as much equality as we possibly can. In the meantime labour movements (and the socialist movement) need to educate ourselves about the relevant issues, exactly what an autism-friendly workplace (and world!) would look like.

First and foremost Janine says we need to expand our appreciation, acceptance and tolerance of neurodivergence, human qualities which relate to the austic spectrum (but also to conditions such as dyslexia and ADHD). At the moment societal emphasis on adaptation is creating problems and distress. It is for instance pushing people on the autistic spectrum who are able to adapt into “masking” (e.g. by anxiously “practising” social skills).

http://www.workersliberty.org/node/26663
 
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