A rating of high severity of autism from the DSM-5, the latest version of the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,” tracks with low intelligence scores, a new analysis suggests1. The study is the first to assess how clinicians use the DSM-5 severity ratings. Clinicians often consi…

His family sued to force the Scouting Association to make activities accessible to all children.Source: The Autism Site

Tests for unusual behavior in mice are notoriously prone to operator error. Many scientists conduct or interpret them incorrectly, and the problems then taint the literature. For example, researchers often incorrectly gauge sociability, and they frequently fail to account for how repetitive behavior…

A single gene accounts for most of the features seen in people missing a segment of chromosome 15 known as 15q13.3, two new studies suggest1,2. People with this deletion often have intellectual disability, epilepsy, language impairment and, in about 15 percent of cases, autism. Based on genetic sequ…

Our autism anchors, Raphael Bernier and James Mancini, explain how mouse models can help scientists understand the causes of autism and evaluate potential treatments for the condition. From science to the community and back again, you can count on getting the inside scoop in digestible quantities wi…

The post Why studying autism in mice may be doomed to fail appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News. Source: Spectrum News

Two new techniques could help reveal the molecular basis of conditions such as autism. One of them provides a way to quickly sequence and assemble an entire genome1. The other helps scientists synthesize thousands of versions of a single gene to test its function2. Typically, genome sequencing invol…

The post Activists arrested; poop cult; ‘landmark’ movie and more appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News. Source: Spectrum News

Children with autism have many of the cognitive difficulties seen in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a new study suggests1. In particular, these children struggle with executive function — a set of mental skills that underlie planning, self-control, short-term memory a…

In this episode of “Spectrum Stories,” host Jacob Brogan talks to scientists about the problems with studying autism using mice and how the field might move forward. The post Spectrum Stories: Talking about autism mouse models appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News. Source: Spectrum News

By Ron Sandison On March 9, 2018, I met Malcolm Wang and his mom Karen at the Autism Alliance of Michigan’s 4th annual Navigating Autism conference. Malcolm is a sixteen year old junior at Northville High School who has autism and epilepsy. He is a photographer and self-advocate.    In six…

“We have been working with a behavior analyst and it seems like every time they give us a new behavior intervention things just get worse, not better. What gives?” Well, if you are working with a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, I’d like to believe that the interventions they are recommending for y…

By Maverick L. Crawford III Maverick talks candidly about being diagnosed with an intellectual disability and autism. His is an inspirational story of rising above his abuse and homelessness to find his personal strength and triumph. I remembered how awkward I appeared to be compared to my other si…

The post Roundtable: Debating diagnostic criteria for autism appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News. Source: Spectrum News