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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Tag: behavioral interventions

April 2022
Illustration of hybrid objects: part light bulb, part lab vial, some in blue and some in red to signify null and replicated results.

Null and Noteworthy: An ineffective therapy and an effective biomarker

by  /  6 April 2022

In this edition, a strategy to help autistic children adapt their skills to new situations shows no benefit, but an early-life autism biomarker does.

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March 2022

New autism clinicians reflect on skill gaps, gains after remote training

by  /  15 March 2022

The pandemic has forced many health-care students to train online, raising concerns about their readiness.

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February 2022

Your questions about the Lancet Commission and ‘profound autism,’ answered

by  /  15 February 2022

Tony Charman and Catherine Lord answer questions from Spectrum’s webinar on the Lancet Commission’s recommendations for autism research.

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December 2021

First-of-its-kind commission defines ‘profound autism,’ issues recommendations

by  /  6 December 2021

Use of the term ‘profound autism’ is among the recommendations made by a panel of autism researchers, clinicians, autistic adults and parents of autistic people.

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Earlier autism diagnosis associated with greater trait improvement

by  /  2 December 2021

Children who are diagnosed with autism before age 2 and a half years show more gains in their social skills than children who are diagnosed later.

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Illustration of hybrid objects: part light bulb, part lab vial, some in blue and some in red to signify null and replicated results

Null and Noteworthy: Quality of life, IACC discussion, mixed results on interventions

by  /  2 December 2021

In this edition of Null and Noteworthy, the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee grapples with “groundbreaking” research and two reviews of interventions come to conflicting conclusions.

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November 2021
Professor Andrew Whitehouse surrounded by playful children in the busy clinic in Subiaco Western Australia.

Beyond the bench: A conversation with Andrew Whitehouse

by  /  24 November 2021

Andrew Whitehouse talks about his conservation efforts in the Australian Outback, what it’s like to be an identical twin and why he leaves work promptly at 5 p.m.

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Cognitive behavioral therapy may be only mildly effective for anxious, autistic children

by  /  16 November 2021

Many autistic children rate the therapy as less effective at treating their anxiety than their parents and clinicians do.

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September 2021
Mother and child playing with small colored blocks on the carpet.

Uncertainty clouds test of ‘preemptive’ therapy to ease autism traits

by  /  24 September 2021

Experts question data showing that an experimental therapy that parents deliver to babies with early signs of autism can lessen the intensity of the children’s traits and lower their chances of diagnosis at age 3.

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Illustration of large microscope with spotlight on DNA strand representing focus on basic research leaving families in the twilight waiting room.

Autism research continues to stress basic science over improving interventions

by  /  14 September 2021

For 40 years, the preponderance of autism research has focused on understanding the causes and characteristics of the condition rather than testing assessments or interventions in community settings.

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