Despite a surge of research, studies and resulting information that’ve come about in the last 15 years or so, there’s still a lot of debate about different aspects of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We now know that autism can affect children in many different ways, that it can’t be diagnosed with a blood test or […]
Advances in medical research have made it possible to detect some health conditions while a child is still in the mother’s womb. These modern prenatal tests can diagnose a wide range of different conditions, helping doctors and parents prepare for different challenges that they may face. Prenatal screening can identify a fetus’ risk level for […]
A Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) plays an integral role in supporting children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disorders. They work every day in fields such as applied behavior analysis (ABA therapy) to help children gain communication and social interaction skills while also modifying certain behaviors. A career as an RBT can be […]
People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently suffer from comorbidities. In addition to their ASD, these people frequently are afflicted with some other condition — whether it be psychiatric or physical — that can cause additional challenges in life. For example, 85% of children on the autism spectrum suffer from at least one psychiatric diagnosis, such […]
Diabetes1 is a serious condition that affects a significant number of people in the United States. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that as of 2021, the crude estimate was that 11.6% of the total population in the U.S. had diabetes, with another 3.4% having potentially undiagnosed diabetes. On its own, diabetes […]
Obesity is a growing problem across all age cohorts in the United States. Childhood obesity is of particular concern, with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting that nearly 20% of children between the ages of 2 and 19 are obese. Obesity is an even bigger concern among people who have autism spectrum […]
Many parents struggle trying to get their children to eat healthy foods. It’s certainly not an uncommon parenting challenge, but it’s more typical with parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Children who have autism are quite often picky eaters. They may prefer to eat only the same foods over and over again, refuse […]
Play is an important aspect of being a toddler. It helps young children understand the world around them, build relationships and interact with other children, and get physical exercise and exert energy. Playing tag and chasing is one common activity that many toddlers enjoy. Children who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD), though, may have struggles […]
Children who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) will likely face many challenges in life that their neurotypical peers don’t. This could include deficits with social interactions and communication, as well as challenges related to restrictive interests, repetitive behaviors and/or sensory sensitivities. Autism can span a very wide spectrum, with different people affected in […]
