Guest Blog Post: How I Manage Depression + ASD
As someone on the autism spectrum, I’ve struggled with depression throughout my life. But the issues aren’t always something that can be resolved simply with talk therapy. And the triggers have come from different issues experienced at different ages. ...
Categories: Associated Conditions, Transition to Adulthood
Crossroads of Adverse Childhood Experiences, PTSD, and Autism Symptoms
Without a specific, objective diagnostic test for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), clinicians can struggle to distinguish behavioral symptoms of ASD from depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or other behaviorally-based disorders.
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Categories: Early Childhood Development, Associated Conditions
From Picky to Adventurous Eater
Food selectivity, or picky eating, can be the source of significant difficulties for autistic individuals and their families. As a child develops a selective food palate, it may first be developmentally appropriate in early childhood and only pose mild challenges to family eating habits and mealtime.
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Categories: Early Childhood Development, Associated Conditions
Hefty Toll for Autistic Children
Childhood obesity continues to be a concern for parents and healthcare providers alike. In the recent years, overweight and obesity have emerged as important issues among autism researchers.
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Categories: Early Childhood Development, Associated Conditions
Doctors’ orders: "Play Your Medicine?" Promising results for a Digitalized Medicine to reduce ADHD symptoms
ADHD is very common among children on the autism spectrum, with researchers estimating as many as 50 percent of children with ASD have some ADHD symptoms
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Categories: Associated Conditions
Early Data on a Potential Digital Treatment for Autism+ADHD
Digital medicine company Akili Interactive announced the results of a successful randomized, controlled clinical trial of an investigational digital treatment for children with Attention Deficient/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
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Categories: Associated Conditions
Vegetables are Yucky! Coping with Food Selectivity and Autism
Mealtime and eating can be a significant source of stress for children with autism and their parents. From not eating enough to overeating and extremely picky eating or “food selectivity,” rigid behaviors and food sensitivities can trap children with autism in a diet lacking variety and nutrition.
Why is picky eating common among children with autism? Food selectively may occur for a variety of reasons: aversions to a particular taste, texture, smell or brand of food, gastrointestinal problems, or previous negative experience are among the common possibilities....
Categories: Movement and Behavior, Associated Conditions
Obesity is a weighty issue for children with autism: but why?
Only recently have doctors and researchers begun to look at overweight and obesity specifically in children with autism - and they were astonished with what they found. Children with autism are two times more likely to be overweight and 5 times more likely to be obese.
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Categories: Associated Conditions
Ready! Set! Go! Benefits of Physical Activity for Individuals with Autism
From weight maintenance to better mental health, the benefits of physical activity are well-documented, but can be difficult to fit into packed schedules. Participation in sports activities helps children meet the recommended minimum requirements for physical activity, but research finds that children with autism are 74% less likely to participate in sports and 60% less likely to be physically active overall....
Categories: Movement and Behavior, Associated Conditions
Combining Gaming + Biofeedback to Help Children with Autism Improve Social Skills
In a newly-launched gaming study, CAR researchers are incorporating biosensors to detect symptoms of anxiety in children as they engage in a space-themed 3D video game.
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Categories: Associated Conditions