I’m Just His Sister

SIBLING TIES BY PAIGE TALHELM What makes things perfect is when he and I can just sit around and watch TV or listen to music together. We don’t have to talk, or we don’t have to be working on his socialization skills. As the end of the school year approaches, I find myself cramming for finals, preparing for graduation, and planning my summer. This is about the same for everybody, where some are asking that […]

Providing Dental Care For Patients With Disabilities

BY CARRIE STETLER With a shortage of special needs facilities, Rutgers School of Dental Medicine clinic serves a vulnerable population. Dennis Fitzpatrick had 17 cavities by the time he arrived at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine’s special care center seven years ago. Fitzpatrick, 27, who suffers from cerebral palsy, had regular checkups throughout childhood, but his dental decay had progressed so far, four of his teeth had to be removed. Because of his disability, […]

Lurasidone Improves Function in Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder

As published in PracticeUpdate® May 18, 2015—Toronto, Ontario, Canada—Lurasidone has been proven effective in patients with autism spectrum disorder. This outcome of a retrospective chart review of the drug in seven patients from a developmental disability clinic was presented at the 168th Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association from May 16 – 19. Aadhar Patil, MD, of St. Lukes/Roosevelt Hospital, New York, explained that his group’s report is the first on the use of […]

Autism: A New Theory

BY JOHN J. CANNELL, MD It’s time to look at autism a new way – with a new theory. If the CDC’s worst-case scenario of a 12 percent yearly increase in the incidence of autism proves to be true, we will be in serious trouble in terms of caring for these individuals. Over the past 20 years, scientists have assured us that effective prevention and treatment of autism are just a matter of time. However, […]

Autism in April

PUZZLES & CAMO BY SHELLY HUHTANEN This April, I’m still going to drag out my autism awareness sign and plop it in my yard… I’ll try not to be as callous and put my best foot forward in the hopes of some good information sharing on our usual media channels, but I’m going to put my foot down on one thing. April is here. Another Autism Awareness Month has arrived. I don’t know why, but […]