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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.

October 2021
Young child at a medical check-up.

Missed check-ups, delayed autism diagnoses among low-income children

by  /  6 October 2021

Autistic children from low-income families are diagnosed about eight months later than their wealthier peers, a new analysis of insurance claims in Virginia shows.

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September 2021
Portrait of Dr. Eric Fombonne at home.

Eric Fombonne: Crossing continents to expand autism science

by  /  7 September 2021

A Paris-born child psychiatrist, Fombonne has advanced bold positions on the cause, prevalence and nature of autism during a career spanning four countries.

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August 2021
Mom and toddler with audio recording device

Video: Wearable sensors pick up early signs of autism

by  /  30 August 2021

Audio and motion-sensor recordings offer a remote window into a baby’s first years and make it easier for families to participate in research.

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Portrait of the Lane family in Kentucky.

Moving for autism care

by  /  4 August 2021

Disparities in state services for autism are driving families to relocate. But not everyone can afford to move, and others find that their new home also has faults.

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Image shows two young girls, identical twins, covering their faces with leaves while facing each other.

Q&A with John Constantino: Solving the biomarker conundrum

by  /  3 August 2021

Biological factors that reflect autism’s roots may differ from those that influence how severe the condition is. Failure to make a distinction has stymied the search for biomarkers.

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July 2021

Sex, age of diagnosis correlate with autism comorbidities

by  /  30 July 2021

Girls are more likely to have various other conditions, such as anxiety or an eating disorder, if they are diagnosed with autism as a teenager, compared with girls diagnosed as children. The findings may suggest that clinicians miss diagnosing some autistic girls unless they also have co-occurring conditions.

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Colorful, playful illustrated scene of ewborns on a conveyor belt moving past researchers holding a long, long list.

The push to screen newborns for rare autism-linked genetic conditions

by  /  28 July 2021

As treatments for some autism-linked genetic conditions inch closer to the clinic, researchers are talking more urgently about screening all newborns for such conditions.

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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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