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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Opinion /

Viewpoint

Expert opinions on trends and controversies in autism research.

Previous articles
January 2019

How to offer support for young autistic children in South Africa

by ,  /  22 January 2019

Coaching caregivers in early-intervention strategies may be the most effective way to help young autistic children in South Africa.

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illustration shows woman under umbrella, with genes falling like rain

Expliquer la résilience à l’autisme peut faire naître de nouvelles thérapies

by  /  18 January 2019

This article is also available in anglais. Il y a quelques années la mère d’un jeune autiste m’a téléphoné. Elle venait d’apprendre que son fils, qui était dans la vingtaine, avait une délétion de SHANK3, l’un des gènes qui, d’après les découvertes de mon équipe, subit une mutation chez certaines personnes autistes. Cette nouvelle m’a […]

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Diverse group of children with happy do

How to help underserved groups gain access to autism care

by  /  15 January 2019

Place your autism center in the community you serve, remove barriers to care, cast a wide net for autism signs, and do as much as possible in the first visit: These principles can help build a lifelong relationship with the community.

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December 2018
Woman looking into mirror sees words and fragmented reflection.

Why adults need an easier path to autism diagnosis

by  /  18 December 2018

Getting an autism diagnosis can be difficult for many adults, due to the dearth of reliable tests, high costs and bureaucracy.

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Post-traumatic stress disorder may mimic autism in some children

by  /  11 December 2018

Clinicians need to be able to distinguish autism from post-traumatic stress disorder so they can provide the right support.

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Illustration shows paper under review and the research process, on two different sides.

Peer review of methods before study’s onset may benefit science

by  /  4 December 2018

‘Registered reports’ — a type of paper in which experimental protocols are reviewed before the study begins — may make neuroscience studies more rigorous and reproducible.

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November 2018
illustration shows figure with many different colors and shapes indicating fluidity of identity.

Why we need to respect sexual orientation, gender diversity in autism

by  /  27 November 2018

Autistic people with a minority sexual orientation or gender identity face specific challenges, from having their self-assessments dismissed to difficulties advocating for their gender needs.

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Drawing shows robot making a surprised face to mimic human emotion.

Intelligent robots could prove to be a boon for autism therapies

by ,  /  13 November 2018

Robots may one day help therapists analyze behaviors and devise personalized sessions for autistic children.

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Illustration shows Austria lagging behind Germany--doctors and researchers are taking bigger steps in Germany.

How Austria can restore its status as a center of autism research

by  /  6 November 2018

Austria must train more autism specialists, expand its research funding and build more centers for autism diagnosis and treatment.

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October 2018
A woman peers through a wall made to look like a genetic sequencing background, through a missing area.

Counseling can ease shock of unexpected genetic results

by  /  23 October 2018

The best way to deliver surprises from genetic findings is to provide adequate information and counseling alongside the results.

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