Skip to main content

Spectrum: Autism Research News

Podcasts /

Spectrum stories

Stories about autism, featuring experts, families and journalists.

Previous articles
October 2020
portraits of four black autism researchers

What it’s like to be a Black autism researcher

22 October 2020

Spectrum spoke to four Black autism researchers about what it’s like to be in a field that’s overwhelmingly white, how police violence against Black people has affected them, and the joy of finding one another in ‘Black In Neuro.’

June 2020
two people social distancing

Spectrum stories: Life in lockdown with autism

17 June 2020

Host Chelsey B. Coombs talks to clinicians and people with autism about their experience of the pandemic, how their routines have changed and some of the unexpected benefits.

June 2019
man's hand on woman's shoulder creating a sensory reaction visualized by illustrated lines

Spectrum Stories: What social touch says about autism

18 June 2019

Understanding how touch is altered in autism could yield an early marker of the condition.

May 2019
Illustration shows woman connecting digitally with other parents

Spectrum Stories: How social media aids discovery and diagnosis of autism-linked conditions

6 May 2019

Social media is connecting families with researchers who study rare conditions related to autism — to the benefit of both.

March 2019
Spectrum stories podcast logo.

Spectrum Stories: The benefits of genetic testing in autism

18 March 2019

Finding a mutation linked to autism traits can have life-changing consequences for autistic individuals and their families.

January 2019
Boy during test with researcher

Spectrum Stories: Tapping intelligence in minimally verbal people with autism

23 January 2019

Scientists are finding new ways to test cognition in autistic individuals who speak little or not at all.

October 2018
Black and white street scene with high contrast and fragmentation to show possible experience of person with autism.

Spectrum Stories: Seeing through an autistic person’s eyes

24 October 2018

Virtual reality can help typical people experience sensory hypersensitivity and other perceptual differences that autistic individuals describe. Host Ben Kuebrich reports.

September 2018
Spectrum stories podcast logo.

Spectrum Stories: Resetting the autistic brain

14 September 2018

Deep brain stimulation is not an approved treatment for autism but has helped some people with extreme obsessions and other severe traits. Host Ben Kuebrich investigates one success story.

August 2018
Spectrum stories podcast logo.

Spectrum Stories: Understanding autism’s suicide risk

13 August 2018

Suicidal thoughts appear to be more common in autistic people but they’re also more difficult to detect. Host Ben Kuebrich reports.

June 2018
Spectrum stories podcast logo.

Spectrum Stories: Gaming autism treatments

20 June 2018

Researchers are designing video games to hone visual-attention skills in children with autism. New host Ben Kuebrich explores.