IVF poses minimal risk of autism and low IQ
Conclusion This large cohort study showed that compared with spontaneous conception, IVF treatment (all techniques combined) was not associated with autistic disorder but was associated with a small, borderline significant increase in the risk of mental retardation. For specific IVF procedures, IVF with ICSI was associated with a small increase in the risk of ASD and mental retardation compared with IVF that did not involve ICSI. This study benefits from a large sample size and robust data collection methods, and did well to address an issue few other studies have looked at. But it's worth noting that there may be other u...
Source: NHS News Feed - July 3, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Medical practice Neurology Mental health Pregnancy/child Source Type: news

Is road traffic pollution really a cause of autism?
Conclusion The limitations in this study’s design mean it cannot prove that air pollution causes or increases the risk of developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, it does tentatively suggest higher pollution levels may increase the risk, which may prompt further, more reliable investigation. It is important to consider the limitations of this research before concluding a direct causal link between environmental pollutants and autistic spectrum disorders. Problems with assessment of pollution levels The air pollution data was not accurately assigned to the child’s date of birth. Some children were assigned p...
Source: NHS News Feed - June 19, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Neurology Source Type: news

New Software System Could Help With Social Interactions, Social Phobias
Social phobias affect about 15 million adults in the United States, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, and surveys show that public speaking is high on the list of such phobias. For some people, these fears of social situations can be especially acute: For example, individuals with Asperger's syndrome often have difficulty making eye contact and reacting appropriately to social cues. But with appropriate training, such difficulties can often be overcome... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - June 18, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Psychology / Psychiatry Source Type: news

George Widener: the incredible life of the man makes art for robots | Alex Bellos
Cold War spy, homeless dropout and semi-professional gambler, the autistic savant George Widener is now an internationally renowned artistAll through his life George Widener has been fascinated with calendars."Other kids lined toys up in a row," he said. "I lined up dates."Yet his fixation with calendars has ultimately turned him into a celebrated artist whose striking paintings of numbers, cities, maps and machines have been exhibited all around the world. "[In my art] I am using the dates as the medium," he said.I met Widener last week, and he walked me through Hayward Gallery in London, where his work is appearing in th...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - June 17, 2013 Category: Science Authors: Alex Bellos Tags: Blogposts guardian.co.uk Mathematics Science Source Type: news

Four Tips to Keep a Child With Autism Safe From Wandering
Wandering happens in almost half of children with autism, often resulting in injury or worse. Wandering is a major concern for many families although 50 percent report having no guidance on how to deal with it. Here are four practical tips to help.read more (Source: Psychology Today Anxiety Center)
Source: Psychology Today Anxiety Center - June 12, 2013 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Arshya Vahabzadeh, M.D. Tags: Anxiety Autism Child Development Parenting 4 year olds aspergers automobile traffic Caregivers children with autism close calls danger disappearance family members fencing gps tracker home and garden injury least four tim Source Type: news

Attention-seeking, naughty, erratic ... Jo thought her son didn't fit in because he was an only child - in fact, he had Asperger's
When Jo Case had to see teachers about her son Leo's erratic behaviour - or hear from parents who didn't want him playing with their children anymore - she was to blame. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Source: the Mail online | Health - June 7, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

Autism Spectrum Disorders (Pervasive Developmen...
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), also known as Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDDs), cause severe and pervasive impairment in thinking, feeling, language, and the ability to relate to others. These disorders are usually first diagnosed in early childhood and range from a severe form, called autistic disorder, through pervasive development disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), to a much milder form, Asperger syndrome. They also include two rare disorders, Rett syndrome and childhood disintegrative disorder. (Source: About.com Mental Health)
Source: About.com Mental Health - June 5, 2013 Category: Psychiatry Tags: health Source Type: news

The Personal and Cultural Truth of Diagnosis
How are people with Asperger's affected by the elimination of the category? What should we make of the subjectivity of diagnosis in general? In redefining diagnoses, we often ignore the broader meanings attached.read more (Source: Psychology Today Anxiety Center)
Source: Psychology Today Anxiety Center - June 4, 2013 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Jessica Grogan, Ph.D. Tags: Anxiety Psychiatry American Psychiatric Association autism community autism diagnosis billion dollars biological markers diagnostic system doman dsm gary greenberg institute of mental health medical truth mental disorder mental Source Type: news

Man who drank three litres of coke died a day after drink made his lungs swell to four times the normal weight
Asperger Syndrome sufferer Paul Inman, 30, of Haworth, West Yorkshire, drank himself to death by consuming huge quantities of cola, an inquest in Bradford was told. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Source: the Mail online | Health - May 29, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

Truth In Body Language
We all give ourselves away every minute of every day. That is, we broadcast our true intentions, feelings, and even thoughts without knowing it through our body language, tone, and facial expressions. This happens whether those intentions, feelings, and thoughts match what we express through language or not.read more (Source: Psychology Today Relationships Center)
Source: Psychology Today Relationships Center - May 27, 2013 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Alex Lickerman, M.D. Tags: Relationships autism asperger dementia dementia research emotions facial expression facial expressions friends and lovers human beings impressions intuition intuitions many things microexpressions performance anxiety physical Source Type: news

Is Asperger’s overdiagnosed because parents want free stuff?
In any harsh political climate there’s much snarking about free stuff and those who are supposedly getting it. Takers versus makers. The 47%. There’s a free stuff theme in autism politics, too, and it goes like this: Why is Asperger’s overdiagnosed? Because parents want free stuff and an Asperger’s diagnosis is how they get it.read more (Source: Psychology Today Parenting Center)
Source: Psychology Today Parenting Center - May 25, 2013 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Lucy Berrington Tags: Autism Child Development Education Parenting allen frances anecdotal evidence apa Asperger Disorder classic autism classroom aides customized education Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) disorder diagnosis dsm 5 dsm iv Source Type: news

Link Between Epilepsy And Autism Found
Adults with epilepsy are more likely to have a greater number of characteristics of autism and Asperger syndrome, according to new research by the University of Bath, England. The finding was discovered by Dr. SallyAnn Wakeford, a PhD student from the University's Department of Psychology, and revealed a previously unknown link between epileptic seizures and the signs of autism in adults... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - May 16, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Epilepsy Source Type: news

An Autistic Mind Opens Mine (Can It Open Yours?)
Listening to the brilliant Temple Grandin speak about the autistic brain gets me thinking further about the possible connection between introversion and autism. read more (Source: Psychology Today Personality Center)
Source: Psychology Today Personality Center - May 11, 2013 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Sophia Dembling Tags: Autism Personality Self-Help Social Life analogy animal behavior Asperger ' s syndrome austism spectrum autistic autistic brain boarding school brain differences brain imaging deodorant extrovert extroverted handicaps Source Type: news

Abnormal growth rate in womb linked to autism
Conclusion This large study suggests a possible link between foetal growth and very low or very high birth weight and ASD, with or without intellectual disability. However, it only observes an association and does not prove cause and effect. Parents expecting a baby who is showing below- or above-average foetal growth, or who have a baby born with below- or above-average birth weight, should not be overly concerned that their child may be at risk of developing ASD. If there is a direct link between foetal growth and ASD, the reasons why this may be the case are not clear. The authors' suggestions of possible reasons, su...
Source: NHS News Feed - May 2, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Neurology Mental health Pregnancy/child Source Type: news

Books: Father and Son, Sharing Life With Asperger’s
It can be hard to pinpoint what in John Elder Robison’s relationship with his son is shaped by their Asperger’s and what stems from their own idiosyncratic personalities.     (Source: NYT Health)
Source: NYT Health - April 22, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: By GREGORY COWLES Tags: Parenting Books and Literature Children and Childhood Asperger's Syndrome Source Type: news