Archive for autism
Medical care for youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities: A call for change
According to national data, one in six children has a neurodevelopmental disability (NDD) such as autism, intellectual disability, or ADHD. Their medical care is often inadequate, sometimes leaving conditions untreated and neglecting preventive care — with poorer outcomes as the result. Clinicians may not take time to communicate with children, teens, and young adults with ... Read More about Medical care for youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities: A call for change
Don’t forget the cheese, please! Rachel’s EoE journey
Like many teens, Rachel loves cheese and other dairy foods. “Cheese sticks, yogurt, and especially pizza,” Chellie, her mom, shares. Rachel agrees: She would eat cheese every day if she could. Up until this past spring, Rachel, who also has autism spectrum disorder, was unable to enjoy her favorite foods due to incredible pain in ... Read More about Don’t forget the cheese, please! Rachel’s EoE journey
Homecoming: Jack’s complex care brings a family back to Massachusetts
Georgia and her husband, Keith, moved to North Carolina from Massachusetts in 2015 with a dream of building a house and starting a family. Their plans changed, however, when their son Jack was born in 2017 with severe health complications, including a rare and severe form of childhood epilepsy called Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and a rare ... Read More about Homecoming: Jack’s complex care brings a family back to Massachusetts
Getting a little help from a game show host: How Steve Harvey became Panos’ personal tooth fairy
11-year-old Panos loves to smile and sing — but getting him to show his teeth to a dentist hasn’t always been easy. When he visited a dentist near his home for his first cleaning, the experience was a tough one. “He was overwhelmed by the new environment and refused to open his mouth,” explains his ... Read More about Getting a little help from a game show host: How Steve Harvey became Panos’ personal tooth fairy
Toddlers diagnosed with autism should be reevaluated over time
Parents whose child has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may feel it’s a lifelong label. But a new study offers hope: It found that 37 percent of children diagnosed as toddlers no longer met criteria for autism when they reached early school age. Findings were published October 2 in JAMA Pediatrics. Study leader ... Read More about Toddlers diagnosed with autism should be reevaluated over time
Research aims to pinpoint genetic connection between autism and heart disease
Cardiology and neurodevelopmental researchers have more questions than answers about the possible genetic links between congenital heart disease (CHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A study that’s underway at Boston Children’s aims to pin down those elusive answers by taking a close look at the genetics of children with neurodevelopment and cardiovascular conditions. The researchers want to see ... Read More about Research aims to pinpoint genetic connection between autism and heart disease
Making autism evaluations accessible: Boston Children’s tests virtual options
Many obstacles can delay a diagnosis of autism in children, including language barriers, waiting lists for evaluation, and access to care. At Boston Children’s Hospital, pediatrician Corinna Rea, MD, MPH, and her research team at Boston Children’s Primary Care are re-thinking the autism evaluation process to improve patient care. How the pandemic influenced a new ... Read More about Making autism evaluations accessible: Boston Children’s tests virtual options
Treating brain ‘hotspots’ and networks to address autism, aggression, and more
What if doctors could break down conditions like autism into their key symptoms, map these symptoms to “hotspots” in the brain, and then treat those areas directly with brain stimulation? If it bears out, such an approach could turn the care of neurologic and developmental disorders on its head, focusing on symptoms that are shared ... Read More about Treating brain ‘hotspots’ and networks to address autism, aggression, and more
A different kind of hearing: Caleb’s cochlear implant
Caleb recently told his mother, “I think I’m going to write my own stories.” This news didn’t surprise his parents, Wendy and Chris. For several years, 8-year-old Caleb has filled notebook after notebook with pictures and stories. His stack of favorite books includes Boxcar Children and The Chronicles of Narnia. But given some of his ... Read More about A different kind of hearing: Caleb’s cochlear implant
Rethinking the need for ADOS testing to diagnose autism in young children
The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, or ADOS testing, was developed in the 1980s as a tool for autism research. Through a series of semi-structured observations, trained evaluators assess children’s communication skills, social interaction, and imaginative use of materials. But over time, the ADOS has come to be considered the gold standard for a clinical diagnosis ... Read More about Rethinking the need for ADOS testing to diagnose autism in young children