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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Tag: diagnosis

July 2021
Illustration shows a woman whose mouth is covered by a cloud and whos eyes are covered by a cloud.

Double empathy, explained

by  /  22 July 2021

The double empathy theory challenges the idea that social difficulties are specific to autism and suggests that problems arise from a mismatch in perspective between autistic and non-autistic people.

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Illustration shows certain states with multiple connections to people and other states

Q&A with Matthew Maenner: Estimating autism prevalence quickly

by  /  13 July 2021

A new method to track autism prevalence in 11 U.S. states is twice as fast as the old approach — and yields similar results.

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June 2021
Close up of phone with Cognoa app in use, apparently taking video or a photo of a child exhibiting stimming behaviors or repetitive motions.

Green light for diagnostic autism app raises questions, concerns

by  /  24 June 2021

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given the okay to an app designed to help clinicians diagnose autism in children, but some researchers have concerns about its use.

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Scientist with diagnostic tool, looking at many different choices, including the number 6.

How two graduate students uncovered a critical error in autism screening guidelines

by  /  22 June 2021

Spectrum spoke to the researchers who uncovered an error in autism screening guidelines that have been in use for nearly a decade.

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May 2021

The first Dutch boy with ‘autism’ — and the nun who cared for him

by  /  25 May 2021

The recognition of autism independently at different times and across different cultures shows the condition has clear boundaries, despite considerable heterogeneity.

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Q&A with Sébastien Jacquemont and Clara Moreau: Why brain imaging signatures for autism are so elusive

by  /  20 May 2021

The field of neuroimaging will need to combine two strategies before it can find patterns of brain activity or structure unique to autism, the researchers say.

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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: Pregnancy factors, household language, toddler tests

by  /  20 May 2021

In this edition of Null and Noteworthy, researchers rebut a controversial epidural study, test out autism assessments in toddlers and give the okay for multilingualism in autistic children.

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Humorous photograph shows a young man with plastic sunglasses on that match the patterns around him, surveys a tabletop scene of patterned objects.

Finding strengths in autism

by  /  12 May 2021

Autism comprises a set of difficulties, but growing evidence suggests that certain abilities also define the condition.

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April 2021
Mother and child during remote diagnosis, with learning toys, in their living room.

Virtual autism assessments are likely here to stay

by  /  19 April 2021

The coronavirus pandemic forced researchers and clinicians to find new ways to assess children for autism — many of which will almost certainly endure.

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March 2021
Doctor or clinician makes notes about patient during diagnosis.

Error found in autism screening guidelines

The U.K. clinical guidelines used to screen for autism contain an error, which may have resulted in many delayed or missed diagnoses over the past decade.

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