Autism

Students with learning disabilities struggle often require additional, individualized support to fill educational gaps. A team of researchers and experts have found that a cute little robot may help children with learning disabilities stay focused.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms generally appear in the first two years of a child’s life. A new study has found that toddlers’ visual attention to geometric images is a reliable biomarker for the early identification of autism.

A first-of-its-kind study has found adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities may experience improvements to symptoms of anxiety and depression after using specially designed virtual reality sensory rooms.

A study has utilized a new kind of computer modeling to investigate how pre-existing drugs could be repurposed to treat autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Among the findings was a discovery that an anti-diarrhea drug could improve ASD symptoms.

New research points to an eye response to light as a potentially useful way of diagnosing autism in young children. Further testing is underway in a large cohort of children and a simple device to screen pupil responses has been developed.

People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID) often experience involuntary movements, which disrupt their ability to perform many tasks. A new device could help reduce those movements, by buzzing its wearer in the wrist.

Autism and ADHD are becoming better understood, but clinicians can still find the two conditions difficult to tell apart. Now, South Australian researchers say they've produced evidence that the two conditions could be diagnosed using an eye test.

Research tracking rates of autism in England has found a striking 787 percent increase in the volume of diagnoses over the past 20 years. The growth is most likely thought to be due to increased reporting and greater detection of the condition in adults.

Although it's certainly best to start addressing autism as early as possible, the disorder is often difficult to detect in young children. A new iOS app has been designed to help, by tracking a child's eyes as they watch videos.

A proof-of-concept study is suggesting epigenetic biomarkers in a father's sperm can predict how susceptible their offspring will be to developing ASD. The research is still in preliminary stages requiring further investigation in larger cohorts.

New findings from a team of Australian scientists suggest increased exposure to testosterone during pregnancy, triggered by a vitamin D deficiency, may be one of the causal factors explaining why autism spectrum disorder is more common in boys.

A new study is shedding light on the link between autism and gut microbiome impairments. The research reveals a potential mechanism by which altered gut bacteria populations can lead to abnormal microbial detoxification and mitochondrial dysfunction.