Breakthrough Research in Early Autism Detection

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Autism Awareness Benefit Walk

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About one in every 150 American children is diagnosed with autism, according to WebMD. Chances are, you know someone who has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or someone who is affected by it. Autism awareness grows every year, with advocacy groups and benefit walks springing up regularly across the nation. But we still don’t really understand a whole lot about it. We don’t know the cause, although numerous factors are suspected to contribute to it. And there is no cure for it, either.

Autism can result in many different symptoms – from behavioral problems to sensory defensiveness to social difficulties. Children with ASD also tend to display speech and language issues. Some of them are nonverbal and prefer to communicate with gestures. Although there is no cure for autism, researchers do know that early intervention is critical. Children who receive speech therapy and other treatments tend to respond better when the treatment begins as early as possible. Unfortunately, most cases of autism aren’t diagnosed until symptoms are evident around the time the child is 2-3 years old. This is why the research from Georgia Tech’s Center for Behavior Imaging is so exciting. Researchers have been working on technologies that would allow for earlier detection of ASD, and subsequently, earlier treatment.

Tracking Eye Movement

Children with ASD typically display a reluctance to make or maintain eye contact with other people. Previously, researchers had the labor-intensive task of sorting through countless video frames to measure the eye contact of an autistic child. The researchers at Georgia Tech have developed a special pair of eyeglasses that can do the same thing automatically.

The eyeglasses are worn by an adult, who then interacts with the child. The eyeglasses are equipped with a front-facing camera that records video. The video is then analyzed by facial-recognition software that detects the direction of the child’s gaze. An experiment with the glasses demonstrated an accuracy of 80%.

Accelerometers for Behavior Detection

The researchers at Georgia Tech also developed technology to track behavioral patterns that can be indicative of autism. This technology is a wearable device that uses accelerometers to track and categorize behaviors. The sensors are worn on the wrists and ankles in order to measure movement. For example, the device tracks when a child throws an object.

Boy with Autism

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Four staff members tested the device by performing 1,200 different behaviors (presumably, that included throwing things around). Not only did the staff members have a really interesting day at work, they were able to determine that the device detected problem behaviors with 95% accuracy and classified all behaviors with 80% accuracy. The researchers then placed the device on a child diagnosed with ASD. Problem behaviors were detected with 81% accuracy and classified with 70% accuracy.

So what does all that research mean for your child? The technology is still new; don’t expect it in your local clinic any time soon. But it is certainly promising that autism diagnostics are going high-tech. The earlier a child can get help, the more effective the treatment is likely to be. This holds true for other speech disorders, as well. If your child has problems with articulation or other communication issues, have him evaluated by a speech-language pathologist. If he does need help, the SLP can also recommend speech therapy activities to do at home with your child, such as using Speech Buddies to improve articulation.

Parent's Guide to Speech & Communication Challenges

An Interview with Gavin Bollard

Interviews
The Bollard Family

Courtesy: Gavin Bollard

In 2006, Gavin Bollard’s eldest son was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome. When Gavin began researching Asperger’s, he realized that much of what he read about it applied to himself. Subsequently, Gavin was also diagnosed with Asperger’s. (Gavin had worked with a speech therapist as a child, despite not being diagnosed until adulthood.) Later, Gavin’s younger son was also found to have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Gavin Bollard blogs about his family’s life with Asperger’s syndrome at Life with Asperger’s. In particular, Gavin emphasizes the importance of celebrating every child’s uniqueness, whether or not they are diagnosed with ASD. Read on to find Gavin’s tips for parents who are new to the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process and his advice on helping children with Asperger’s.

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An Interview with Jerry Turning

Interviews
The Turning Family

Courtesy: Jerry Turning

Today we’re featuring an interview with Jerry Turning, autism dad extraordinaire and writer of Bacon and Juice Boxes: Our Life With Autism. Jerry’s straight talking blog about his son, Eric, reflects the thoughts of countless other parents with children with autism: fear for their child’s future, anger at societal reactions to autism, but also inspiration, pride, and a whole lotta love. In our interview, Jerry discusses his acceptance of his son’s diagnosis, how he relearned the value of pure and simple play, and how his family works to encourage communication with Eric.

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An Interview with Gina Badalaty – Special Needs Mom

Interviews
Gina Badalaty

Courtesy: Gina Badalaty

This week, we’re featuring Gina Badalaty of Mom-Blog. Gina has been blogging about special needs since 2002. Her focus is on raising awareness and helping other parents of special needs kids. Gina herself has two special needs children: Amelia has a rare form of Down syndrome and Zoe has autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In our interview, Gina discusses the many speech therapy techniques she has used with both of her daughters – the ones that worked and the ones that didn’t. While not all speech therapy treatments helped Zoe and Amelia, it’s important to remember that every child is unique. Gina also pointed out that treatment techniques are always evolving. The number one lesson from Gina’s story is to keep trying until you find something that helps, and to never let your child’s disability get in the way of her happiness.

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Characteristics of Speech in Autistic Children

Speech Disorders
Autism Cartoon

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Autism is a developmental disorder that ranges from mild to severe. Rather than being defined as one particular disorder and set of symptoms, autism is referred to as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Every child is unique with his own particular signs and symptoms.

As the parent or caregiver of a child with ASD, you have likely noticed some of the typical signs of autism. Children with autism often react differently to being touched, resist changes to routines, and engage in repetitive activities. However, it bears repeating that children with autism spectrum disorder have various symptoms. That said, you will likely notice that your child communicates differently than children without ASD.

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