Autism, features and articles | Educational Science

Oct 31, 2011

The Hidden Potential of Autistic Kids

When I was in fifth grade, my brother Alex started correcting my homework. This would not have been weird, except that he was in kindergarten—and autistic. His disorder, characterized by repetitive behaviors and difficulty with social interactions and communication, made it hard for him to listen to his teachers. He...

Apr 30, 2011

Brain Overgrowth in Tots Is Linked to Autism

The brains of children who have autism spectrum disorder are larger than those of other children, a difference that seems to arise before they are 2 years old, according to a new study. In 2005, researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that 2-year-old children with...

Feb 28, 2011

Hundreds of Genes Involved in Autism, Many with Similar Roles

There may be hundreds of genes involved in autism, but it's likely that each accounts for only a small number of cases. So the mysterious condition may be better illuminated by studying the roles of these genes in brain development and signaling, rather than by exhaustively searching the human genome...

Apr 2, 2012

Why Some Kids With Severe Autism 'Bloom'

A small number of children with severe autism bloom over time and progress to a high-functioning state, and a new study may reveal part of the reason this happens. In most cases, children with autism who show severe symptoms at diagnosis improve very little as they age, while those who...

Apr 9, 2012

Diabetes, Obesity in Pregnancy Linked with Autism, Delays in Children

Women who are obese or have diabetes while they are pregnant may be more likely to have a child with autism or developmental delays, a new study reports. Though the study does not show them to be a cause of children's developmental difficulties, it is the first time a strong...

Apr 26, 2012

Smoking During Pregnancy Linked to Autism

Women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to birth a child with Asperger’s disorder or some other form of autism, suggests a new study. Autism is an umbrella term for a wide range of disorders that impair social and communication skills,” says Amy Kalkbrenner, assistant professor in the University...

May 18, 2012

Autism in Infants Predicted by Simple Test

Autism is typically not firmly diagnosed until a child is around 3 years old. For infants at 6 months with a high genetic risk for autism, another potential predictor has been found by noting weak head and neck control. Researchers suggest adding the early test of motor skills to existing...

May 30, 2012

Autism May Diminish Belief in God

People who have more traits of autism are less likely to believe in God that those that do not have such traits, according to new research that suggests that belief is boosted by the ability to see into the minds of others. This ability, often called theory of mind, or...

Jul 17, 2012

Autism Survey for Parents May Catch Disorder Early

A survey given to parents when their children are 1-year old children may help identify kids at risk of autism, a new study suggests. Using scores on the survey, called the First Year Inventory, the researchers identified 31 percent of children who were ultimately diagnosed with autism at age 3,...

Sep 6, 2012

Rare Form of Autism Might Benefit from Nutrition Supplement

People who have a very rare form of autism may benefit from treatment with a common nutritional supplement, a new study suggests. The results show some people who have symptoms of both autism and epilepsy have a rare genetic mutation that causes them to have abnormally low levels of essential...

Nov 12, 2012

Autism Linked to Fever or Flu in Pregnancy

Having a fever or flu in pregnancy may be linked with the development of autism in children, a new study suggests. While researchers are hesitant to draw strong conclusions, the study is at least the second showing such a link. The researchers followed mothers in Denmark and the nearly 97,000...

Nov 27, 2012

Car Pollution Linked to Autism

Children exposed to higher levels of air pollution early in life may have an increased risk of autism, a new study suggests. In the study, children living in areas with high levels of traffic-generated air pollution during their first year of life were three times more likely to have autism...

Nov 29, 2012

Autism Risk May Be Revealed in Babies' Cries

The pitch of babies' cries may provide clues as to whether they are at risk for autism as early as 6 months old, a new study suggests. The researchers recorded cries from 39 6-month old infants, 21 of whom were at risk for autism because they had an older sibling...

Feb 13, 2013

Can Folic Acid Prevent Autism?

Women who take folic acid supplements before becoming pregnant, as well as early in pregnancy, may reduce the risk of having a child with an autism spectrum disorder, according to a new study. Researchers followed 85,176 babies born between 2002 and 2008 for three to 10 years to determine whether...

Apr 2, 2013

Weight-Loss Drug May Improve Autism-Style Symptoms

Low doses of a weight-loss drug could reverse many of the autismlike symptoms of a condition called fragile X syndrome, new study in mice suggests. The drug, called rimonabant, blocks receptors that are activated by marijuana in the brain. Mice treated with the drug in the study showed improved memory...