Years of uncertainty — that’s what you might face if your child is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and clinicians struggle to find the right treatment to address specific symptoms. But there’s a different scenario: A genetic test quickly identifies the cause of your child’s disorder. This unique key — coupled with extensive research on thousands of other children with autism — then unlocks the answers that will guide your child’s treatment today and affect […]
by Dr. Francis Collins Millions of people take medications each day for epilepsy, a diverse group of disorders characterized by seizures. But, for about a third of people with epilepsy, current drug treatments don’t work very well. What’s more, the medications are designed to treat symptoms of these disorders, basically by suppressing seizure activity. The medications don’t really change the underlying causes, which are wired deep within the brain. Gemma Carvill, a researcher at Northwestern […]
By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter Young children with autism are more than twice as likely to have sleep problems than typical kids or those with other developmental delays, a new study reports.Several factors profoundly affect the sleep of 2- to 5-year-olds with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), said lead researcher Dr. Ann Reynolds. They are more likely to resist their bedtime, have trouble getting to sleep, suffer from anxiety regarding sleep, wake up in the middle […]
By Markham Heid The sooner a health professional can intervene, the better off your child will be. The first years of a child’s life are a time of tremendous physical, cognitive, and social development. While those years are a joyful time for parents, it’s important that moms and dads keep an eye out for early symptoms or signs of developmental issues, including autism spectrum disorder, a cluster of disorders that affect brain development and can […]
What is autism spectrum disorder? Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication, and behavioral challenges. The term “spectrum” refers to the wide range of symptoms, skills, and levels of impairment that people with ASD can have. ASD affects people in different ways and can range from mild to severe. People with ASD share some symptoms, such as difficulties with social interaction, but there are differences in when the […]
