Local Study Aims To Identify Early Markers Of Autism

SOUTHBORO (CBS) – Siblings of children with autism have a one-in-five chance of developing autism as well. In a first-of-its-kind study in New England, a local researcher is screening babies soon after birth to see whether the very earliest intervention might help prevent autism in these at-risk children. “I noticed that her language wasn’t increasing,” said school teacher Lauren Byron.  She suspected her almost 2-year-old daughter, Mackenzie, had autism. “Still, having somebody else assess your child and tell you that they’re on the autism spectrum was kind of devastating,” Byron told WBZ-TV. When her second child, Finn, was diagnosed at 18 months, she said it wasn’t as much of a shock and services were already in place. Mark and Lauren Byron’s two oldest children, Mackenzie and Finn, have autism, so they have enrolled 3-month-old Graeme in the Infant Sibling Project. (WBZ-TV) “It definitely has its challenges – having two kids on the spectrum,” she explained. “But I think being a parent has its challenges, so we just stay positive and focus on the fact that our kids are healthy and happy.” When Lauren and her husband, Mark, were expecting their third child, they knew he had a 20-percent chance of developing autism as well. So they reached out to Dr. Becky MacDonald, a developmental psychologist and director of the Infant Sibling Project at The New England Center for Children in Southboro. Dr. MacDonald and her team are lo...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Boston News Health Healthwatch Syndicated Local Autism Dr. Mallika Marshall Source Type: news