The Autism Breakthrough Has Brought Hope To Millions -- But Big Challenges Remain

Autism is a condition that exerts a grip on the public imagination like no other. In the social world in which we live, the capacity to read situations and respond appropriately is crucial to successful human interaction. People with autism struggle to acquire this skill. An estimated 600,000 people in Britain have autistic spectrum disorders, ranging from mild to severe, and there has been no proven treatment for the condition -- until now. This week, researchers reported the first successful long term intervention for autism in a ground breaking study that has brought hope to millions of families. Scientists trained parents to meet the needs of their children with the condition by filming their interactions and then replaying them while providing advice on how to respond to each cue. The parental training lasted six months and led to a 17 percent reduction in the proportion with severe symptoms, which persisted for six years. The findings, by researchers from the universities of Manchester, Newcastle and King's College, London, published in The Lancet, were applauded by colleagues who described them as "exciting", "remarkably positive," and "hugely cheering." The challenges are, however, formidable. Globally, approximately 52 million people are affected by autistic spectrum disorders, a figure which has risen sharply over recent decades. In the US alone its prevalence is estimated to have grown from one in 2000 children in 1988 to one in 68 in 2012. Greater aware...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - Category: Science Source Type: news