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Spectrum: Autism Research News

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Diagnosis

Diagnosing autism is an evolving science but a crucial first step to understanding the disorder.

A researcher works with a young child.

Two scientists, two interventions: A ‘gentle rivalry’ to aid autistic children

by  /  2 June 2023
Minimally verbal autistic preschoolers gained new words and phrases in a head-to-head comparison of two interventions.
Collage of multiple figures on a hillside looking at a large blue book in the distance.

Debate remains over changes in DSM-5 a decade on

by  /  31 May 2023
Changes to the DSM-5’s diagnostic criteria for autism were meant to add clarity, but they also generated new questions.
A father and son play with a wooden toy horse on the floor.

Autism intervention before age 2 may aid social, language skills

by  /  16 May 2023
Autistic toddlers who receive a personalized intervention at about 18 months of age gain more abilities than those who start the therapy nine months later.
April 2023
Closeup photograph of an infant lying in a bassinet under white sheets with their left hand lifted close to their ear.

New technique details brainstem’s response to sounds

by  /  4 April 2023

By revealing differences between autistic and non-autistic children, it could help identify autism in babies.

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Portrait of Cathy Lord.

Episode One: Catherine Lord

by  /  1 April 2023

In this inaugural episode, Lord discusses her entry into autism research, what the future of the field might look like, and how drama club saved her in high school.

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Logo for Spectrum’s Synaptic podcast.

Introducing ‘Synaptic,’ a new podcast from Spectrum

by  /  1 April 2023

Explore the people, the science and the challenges in autism research.

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March 2023
Overhead picture of a racially diverse group of children playing while lying on a blue carpet.

U.S. autism prevalence continues to rise as race and sex gaps shrink, new stats show

by  /  23 March 2023

About 1 in 36 children in the United States has autism, up almost 20 percent from the previous estimate, reflecting improved identification, particularly among girls and Black, Hispanic and Asian or Pacific Islander children.

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Image of scientists working in a lab.

African genetics study NeuroDev shares initial findings

by  /  15 March 2023

The most comprehensive study of neurodevelopmental conditions in Kenya and South Africa ever conducted shares preliminary results and lessons.

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February 2023
A photograph of an infant's foot.

Dietary changes ease traits in rare autism-linked condition

by  /  21 February 2023

Early treatment with nutritional supplements and a high-protein diet forestalls some neurodevelopmental problems for children with BCKDK deficiency.

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Coraline with her family at home in Pennsylvania.

The promise of telehealth in autism diagnoses

by  /  15 February 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic forced a reckoning, in which autism clinicians had to redefine best practices and expand how children are evaluated. The remote assessments they developed may help solve a persistent problem: the long wait families endure to get a diagnosis in the United States.

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A group of children walk up stairs

Filling autism knowledge gaps in Latin America: Q&A with Cecilia Montiel-Nava

by  /  13 February 2023

Countries across Latin America and the Caribbean struggle to collect data on autism, but Cecilia Montiel-Nava and the Latin American Autism Spectrum Network are beginning to change that.

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A young girl sits on the couch biting her thumb.

Children with autism and ADHD often have additional mental health conditions

by  /  10 February 2023

The dual diagnosis frequently co-occurs with anxiety, depression and developmental and language delays.

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January 2023
A multiracial group of schoolchildren sit at their desks in class.

Racial, economic disparities skew New Jersey data on autism, intellectual disability

by  /  26 January 2023

Serious differences in autism identification persist, according to an analysis of autistic children in New Jersey over 16 years.

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