Parental optimism, school inclusion may affect long-term progress of individuals with autism

A new study by Ashley Woodman, PhD., and colleagues identifies factors that may increase individuals’ chances of attaining positive changes in their daily living skills, challenging behaviors, and core autism challenges over time.  While some factors the team identified are beyond the control of families, two critical ones are not: 1) the extent of school…

Seeing things differently: Altered GABA signaling at play in autistic visual perception

Evidence is mounting that GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter, plays a critical role in autism. Genetic studies, animal models, and examination of post-mortem tissue from individuals with autism all suggest the GABA signaling pathway is wired differently in neurotypical and autistic brains. However, studies in living humans to support these claims are sparse, and much has…

Evidence sensory differences are related to communication challenges in children with autism

Part of the human brain’s job is to make sense of that tapestry: What input is most important at the moment? What can I safely ignore? One of the core differences between individuals with autism and neurotypicals is how we process sensory information. Specifically, evidence is mounting that sensory “binding,” or integrating multiple sensory inputs…

Traditional and supported employment present diverse challenges to adults with autism

A new study finds that adults with autism in supported employment report fewer communication problems, use more active coping strategies, and have higher “self-efficacy”—their personal judgment of their own capabilities—compared to those in unsupported employment. The new research, from the Freie Universität Berlin, surveyed 66 German, employed adults on the autism spectrum ages 22 to…

Chinese meditation practice improves memory and functional connectivity in children with autism

Children who practiced Nei Gong, an ancient Chinese movement/breathing practice, consistently for a month improved on a visual memory task and demonstrated increased functional connectivity between brain regions. This research joins numerous other studies that support Nei Gong and other mindfulness practices as tools to improve brain function in a variety of populations. Nei Gong…

Origin of a Theory: Excitatory/inhibitory imbalance in the brain as a factor in autism

In 2001, Dr. John P. Hussman published a novel hypothesis in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders concerning the neurological basis of autism. Drawing together findings from genetic, clinical and neurobiological lines of autism research, Hussman proposed that much of the evidence on autism to date was consistent with disruption in the balance between…

Tracking systems to keep your family member safe

There are many products on the market that can help families prevent dangerous elopement and greatly increase the chances of their loved ones returning safely in case elopement does happen. They range from self-funded subscription services that allow you to track someone’s location instantaneously via the internet to centralized, law enforcement-funded systems activated only during…