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How the autism community guided the FDA… is viewed depends on the vantage point of the viewer. As the parent of a young adult affected by autism, I worry about behaviors that can endanger my son or diminish his ability to take care of himself. Others may see autism differently, but … perspective in its work. Dr. Frazier: The agency learned several things. I particularly remember the feedback they got on repetitive sensory motor behaviors – what we often call ‘stimming,’ or self-stimulatory behavior. Many self-advocates at the …
Information for law enforcement… to respond to an emergency, it is critical that these officers have a working knowledge of autism, and the wide variety of behaviors people with autism can exhibit in emergency situations. Teaching first responders the signs of autism is an … Have delayed speech and language skills. Not respond to his/her name or verbal commands. Avoid eye contact. Engage in repetitive behavior (ex. rocking, stimming, hand flapping, spinning). Have sensory perception issues. Have epilepsy or …
Managing anxiety in children with autism … out of the ordinary for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These nervous expressions may represent anxiety or repetitive behaviors. However, they could stem from other sources that would require a professional evaluation. For the purpose of this …
Sensory processing disorder (SPD)… typical ways.  What does SPD look like in people with autism?  Sensory processing disorders may be at the root of some repetitive behaviors and strengths like attention to detail which can be observed by an autistic person’s responses to external input …
Recognizing and preventing sexual abuse… peers, movies, or other similar sources. People with autism must know the difference between appropriate and inappropriate behavior, and to distinguish between the various types of healthy relationships. Start as early as possible and being direct … the victim in getting help and stopping the abuse as soon as possible. The  American Psychological Association  outlines behaviors common in children who have been abused: An increase in nightmares and/or other sleeping difficulties Angry … of that abuse may lead to an increase in the intensity and frequency of stimming behaviors, self-injurious behaviors, and repetitive behaviors behaviors or to the development of new behaviors that were not previously present." For children with …
Medical conditions associated with autism… of options available on the internet. Autism and feeding/eating issues Up to 70% of autistic children have atypical eating behaviors , the most common of which is food selectivity. These issues can include extremely restricted food habits and … adults with autism than it is in the general population. However, it can be difficult to distinguish OCD symptoms from the repetitive behaviors and restricted interests that are a hallmark of autism. If you suspect that you or your child has …
Study shows that many nonverbal autistic children overcome severe language delays… with nonverbal tests) and lower social impairment. Somewhat surprisingly, the researchers found a child’s level of repetitive behaviors and restricted interests did not affect the likelihood of language development. “These findings offer hope to …
Cellairis to raise funds & awareness for autism in April… differently. The hallmarks of autism spectrum disorder – difficulty with communication, social interaction and inflexible, repetitive behaviors – are often accompanied by medical conditions that interfere with the quality of everyday life.  Through …
Autistic burnout: When navigating a neurotypical world becomes too much… or relationships Difficulty with executive functioning, such as completing tasks and making decisions Increase in repetitive behaviors, like stimming Difficulty with activities of daily living like cooking, cleaning or personal hygiene More frequent …
New findings on probiotics for autism … on a major Autism Speaks-funded study investigating the role that the microbiome plays in autism-related GI issues and behavioral symptoms. The microbiome includes the body’s normal community of intestinal bacteria, which help us digest our … report in the journal Cell, describes how one strain of the probiotic,  Lactobacillus reuteri , reduced some autism-like behaviors in mice – mice that had abnormally low levels of this microbe in their digestive tract. The researchers, led by … studies have also shown an association between changes in microbiome and autism-like behaviors such as social avoidance and repetitive actions. In some of these studies, probiotic treatment helped alleviate some, though not all, of these behavioral …