Autism + Original Articles

The Link Between Folic Acid and Autism

If you're considering having a baby, you'll want to ask your doctor about folic acid and its potential role in preventing autism. If you are a woman of child-bearing age, be sure to ask your doctor about taking folic acid supplements. A new study reported on MSN.com shows that women who take the supplements before conceiving, as well as early in pregnancy, may reduce their risk of having a child with autism.

Learning Disabilities: Early Diagnosis Is Key

Recognizing the signs sooner than later can help kids thrive in school. If your child has a learning disorder, basic tasks like reading, concentrating, and organizing information may be challenging. Learning disorders—by some estimates—affect about 1 in 7 Americans and impact how a person understands, remembers, and responds to new information.

The Benefits of Music Therapy for Autism

This approach may help improve language comprehension, social behaviors, and motor skills in children with autism. A host of therapies are available for people with autism, and music is one that is gaining attention. Used as a complementary therapy to early educational intervention, it can be a valuable tool in advancing the skills and decreasing the isolation of the autistic child.

Best Treatments for Autism

What are the cutting-edge options for speech, behavioral, and development treatments? Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and autism are terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development that affects about 1 in 88 children according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Though scientist can't be sure what causes autism, much evidence points to genetics and problems with the function, interaction, and mutation of certain genes.

Your Adult Child With Disabilities: A Caregiving Guide

Here's how to find helpful resources and know the right questions to ask. If you have a child with disabilities who is nearing adulthood, you have a lot of plans to make. Not only do you need help right now to ensure your child's adulthood is as fulfilling and independent as possible, but you also need to plan for your child's future, and one that might not include you.

Autism and Obesity: What Are the Facts?

There's a lot of misinformation and fear surrounding autism. Here are just the facts about autism and obesity for expecting moms and the children themselves. Autism is one of several neurological, developmental disorders. Children generally show signs of autism by the time they are three, and estimates of the prevalence of autism range from 1 in 91 children to 1 in 150. Children with autism suffer from delayed or disordered language development and have trouble communicating, forming relationships, and controlling their behavior.

Taking Your Child to the Hospital?

Care for your child with confidence with these 10 tips. Taking your child to the hospital for treatment can be a confusing and emotionally taxing experience. And as a parent, you're required to serve a dual role, as both loving family member and patient advocate. "Parents are an integral part of their child's health-care team, even in the hospital," says Karen Bergan, parent leader and chairwoman of the Family Advisory Council at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian.

Living With Asperger Syndrome

It's estimated that more than 400,000 families in the U.S. have a child with Asperger Syndrome. The disorder affects more boys than girls and is most often diagnosed between the ages of 5 and 9. Here's what you should know about this common disorder. Asperger syndrome (AS) is a neurobiological disorder that is part of a group of conditions known as autism spectrum disorders. The disorder was named after Hans Asperger, a Viennese pediatrician, who, in 1940, first described a set of behavior patterns, such as impaired social skills, the inability to communicate effectively with others, and poor coordination, that he found in some of his patients.

Obsessed with Order or OCD?

Does he like to arrange toys by size or color or count the same object over and over again? Some children like order and find routines comforting. But when these behaviors start interfering with daily life, there may be reason to worry. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a type of anxiety disorder that may first appear as strange or odd behaviors. In children, the onset typically occurs between the ages of 8 and 13 and is rarely diagnosed in preschoolers. People with OCD are distressed by constant, unwanted thoughts or impulses (obsessions).

Could Neurofeedback Retrain Your Brain?

Although the procedure may sound complex, the intended results are not. NFT seeks to teach a brain with a particular abnormality how to behave normally. Picture the scene from TV. A patient suffering from some mental malady is holed up in a windowless office, electrodes placed strategically about her head, while a screen records responses to various stimuli. It's fiction, but the premise is anchored in scientific accuracy.
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