Autistic kids’ microbiome differences are due to picky eating, write researchers Chloe Yap, Andrew Whitehouse, and Jake Gratten There has been much speculation that the community of bacteria living in the gut – known as the microbiome – may be different among people on the autism...
Up to 80% of autistic children have problems with sleep, and this may be worsened by other medications they are prescribed. Sleep Foundation New study looks to test alternative to medication Autistic children are often prescribed medication, including for sleep conditions such as insomnia. But is...
Children with mental health problems were at increased risk of developing a mental disorder as an adult, a new study has found. Research at a Glance: A Melbourne-led study has found children with mental health problems were at increased risk for developing a mental disorder...
Rhonda Garad discovers that a medical label is just that, and does not change the uniqueness of a child. Autism was a word bandied around so much I was sure I knew what it meant. That was until the day the kind medical professionals sat me...
Understanding this could help us teach them, writes John Munro Around one in every 70 Australians are on the autism spectrum. The proportion of children with autism is higher – more than 80% of all Australians on the autism spectrum are aged under 25. Autism is most...
Many children with autism struggle to find the words to express how they feel, writes Dawn R. Mitchell White. But when it comes to music, it’s an entirely different situation. Evidence suggests children with autism may enjoy music and show an early desire for music education. I...
Academics David Trembath, Andrew Whitehouse, Hannah Waddington, and Kandice Varcin, examined the research evidence on 111 autism early intervention approaches. Here's what they found. Every parent wants the best for their child on the autism spectrum, but navigating the maze of interventions can be tiring, costly...
When a child is diagnosed with autism, his or her future is uncertain. While the media often focuses on more fashionable treatments for autism, such as special diets and supplements, we should have no illusions about the importance of early intervention. It’s about grabbing a child’s...
The outbreak of COVID-19 has markedly changed the lives of Australia’s 350,000-plus autism families, says Ash Bhattacharya, a leading autism educational expert. He is calling for greater awareness of the challenges the COVID-19-related lockdowns and social restrictions have presented for autistic children, revealing five tips for...
Autism parents fear new NDIS assessment criteria could restrict their child’s needs and access to funding There are currently 353,880 people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Australia – a 40 per cent increase since 2014. With the prevalence of the condition growing in our population,...
