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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.

December 2018
Female doctor with mother and child in doctor's office.

Slow onset may explain late autism diagnosis in some children

by  /  3 December 2018

Some autistic children don’t show traits of the condition until age 5 or later.

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November 2018

Schizophrenia prevalence may be threefold higher in people with autism

by  /  21 November 2018

Autism and schizophrenia co-occur significantly more often than would be expected by chance, according to an analysis of nearly 2 million people.

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Illustration shows long line of children waiting to see one doctor.

Why are there so few autism specialists?

by  /  21 November 2018

A lack of interest, training and pay may limit the supply of specialists best equipped to diagnose and treat children with autism.

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Motor, sensory traits refine autism definition in research framework

by  /  7 November 2018

Adding motor and sensory data boosts the accuracy of Research Domain Criteria — a broad research framework adopted by the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health — for predicting autism.

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Large crowd of people seen from above.

Large Danish study finds autism prevalence rises with age

by  /  6 November 2018

The rising prevalence of autism is not leveling off, according to a new study that accounts for every diagnosis made in Denmark over 32 years.

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A drawing shows the word 'autism' formed of loose letters under a magnifying glass.

Autism diagnosis, explained

by  /  5 November 2018

New and improved autism screens and diagnostic tools promise to streamline the long path to an autism diagnosis.

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A young boy plays with blocks

Revised test offers reliable way to track autism over time

by  /  1 November 2018

A recalibrated version of a widely used test for autism may accurately reflect autistic children’s development as they grow and become verbal.

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October 2018
A photograph with text and colors shows an actor with objects that might distract or attract, at a desk.

Eye-tracking test may reveal autism risk, severity

by  /  19 October 2018

Two novel algorithms that analyze where a child looks as she views a video could help clinicians spot autism.

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A group of high school kids walking down a set of stairs outside a building.

Autism prevalence program expands to include teenagers

by  /  1 October 2018

The network of researchers keeping tabs on autism prevalence in U.S. children plans to follow up with some of those children in adolescence.

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September 2018
Collage image shows figure of person experiencing a tough therapy session

At the intersection of autism and trauma

by  /  26 September 2018

Autism and post-traumatic stress disorder share many traits, but the connection between them was largely overlooked until now.

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