Early Detection

Robotic toys may one day diagnose autism

By on October 31, 2005

Jaiden.net reports: "Brian Scassellati is a robotics researcher in Yale's computer-science department, and is part of an interdisciplinary group on campus that includes doctors and others. Part of his contribution has been to build very simple robotic heads -- more like smart toys -- then to watch how different children, autistic and nonautistic, respond to them.

"These devices can be programmed to monitor where the child is, or whether the...

Doctors should use biology, not only behavior, to evaluate children

By on May 29, 2005

From Forbes:

Autism's sharp rise is, in large part, a matter of definitions. Is a child with severe learning problems autistic? What about a child who is insensitive in social situations? What about children who have trouble communicating or seem to retreat into their own shells? These days a large number of children who fit any of those descriptions are likely to be tagged with the autism label, or their parents will be told that they have a...

Research Offers Hope for Autism Blood Test

By on May 11, 2005

In this article from WebMD Medical News, Autism researchers state they are closer then ever to developing a blood test for Autism. In addition to delivering conclusive results to adults and child who wonder if they are autistic, the blood tests could be use to discover autism in newborns leading to earlier intervention.

Behavioral traits in kids can predict autism

By on May 3, 2005

A recent study by Canadian researchers has revealed that certain behavioral traits in infants, some as young as 12 months can predict whether a child will develop autism in later life.

The study, which appears in the International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience, states that certain traits like not smiling in response to the smiles of others or not responding when one's name is called are some of the indications that can tell whether a...

Early diagnosis key to treating autism

By on May 2, 2005

The challenge of treating autism lies in identifying the disorder at an early age.

"The sooner the diagnosis, the better outcome you are going to have," said Lewes pediatrician Dr. Jay Ludwicki.

He said parents should rely on children's well checks to diagnose symptoms, which generally present themselves by 15 and 18 months and as early as 12 months. Those symptoms can range depending on the degree of the neurological disorder, which...

Early Intervention With Autism

By on February 10, 2005

The number of children diagnosed with some form of autism has been skyrocketing. Several drugs are helpful in treating behavioral symptoms that come with the disorders. Dr. Dean Edell reports on a drug-free treatment that changes lives.

Misdiagnosing Narcissism – Asperger’s Disorder

By on July 26, 2004

Zongoo.com writes: Asperger's Disorder is often misdiagnosed as Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), though evident as early as age 3 (while pathological narcissism cannot be safely diagnosed prior to early adolescence).

First-ever reduction in autism diagnoses in California

By on July 23, 2004

First-ever reduction in autism diagnoses in California appears to reinforce theory of link with mercury poisoning

Awares.org article

Early detection of autism improves chances

By on July 14, 2004

July 13: Autism was once thought to be extremely rare, but now it's being diagnosed more often and researchers say early diagnosis can be critical for treatment. NBC’s Robert Bazell reports.