Significant gains seen in IQ, communication and social interaction
A novel early intervention program for very young children with autism – some as young as 18 months – is effective for improving IQ, language ability, and social interaction, a comprehensive new study has found. [continue reading…]
McElwain, who never complained about being left off the roster, shows us that attitude is everything.
A lovely heart warming story on this bleak and rainy Vancouver Sunday– which holds a lesson for us all.
Source: Hat tip Josh Catone Mashable 🙂
Video : Newsy
hat tip Rosa for sending me the link to this video 😉
Mary Carmichael in Newsweek looks at the new data has everyone who cares about autism abuzz.
For years the autism community’s most powerful public-relations weapon has been a striking statistic: an estimated 1 in 150 children have the diagnosis. Now it appears that estimate is actually too small. According to two new studies, the number of kids diagnosed with autism or a related disorder in the U.S. is closer to 1 in 100.
In the contentious autism community, two debates are constantly simmering: How many more children actually have autism now than had it in the past? And what are the underlying causes? The new numbers don’t just fail to resolve either of these debates—they turn up the heat on both.
After a child is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), many parents feel overwhelmed and experience high levels of stress. While this is a very challenging time, there are steps parents can take to accept the diagnosis and move forward. Parents typically want to spring into action to help their child, but taking time for themselves has long term benefits for the entire family.
According to Dr. Amy Keefer, a clinical psychologist in the Center for Autism and Related Disorders at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, “While it’s natural for a parent to put their child first, parents often don’t realize that they should let themselves experience the range of emotions that may accompany the diagnosis. There are a number of coping strategies parents should consider to help alleviate stress and continue on with their lives.” [continue reading…]
