ReThinking Autism Blog
Autism and auditory processing
The impact of auditory processing issues in autism It is well understood that many on the autism spectrum experience challenges with processing a range of sensory information. This is wonderfully covered in previous Thinking Autism blogs ‘Misperceptions of ASD...
Misperceptions of ASD Neurodiversity and Health Recovery
As a Chartered Psychologist, child development researcher and author in the autism/ASD field, I frequently meet misperceptions of neurodiversity in relation to programmes for autism and health recovery. Somehow or other the belief has developed that to offer such help to an individual on the autistic spectrum is to deny their neurodiversity. In this blog I suggest a new way of looking at this subject…
An Introduction to Vision Therapy as a Treatment for Autism
I hope that my journey in vision therapy will serve not only as a roadmap for people with mild autism to find their way out of the labyrinth of disability but as something that can provide clues to help those with more severe autism find their way to a life more fully lived.
Turning the Tide of Behaviourism
Please find below some thoughts from Romulus Campan, an adult with autism and a delegate at our recent conference. I had the pleasure of talking to Rom at the conference. I cannot remember the last time I met someone so open-minded, eager to take in new information in...
Autism acceptance – false dichotomies and the damage done
When discussing autism—especially on the internet and in the media—there are way too many people who recklessly engage in false dichotomy. It’s a kind of extremism that gets us nowhere…I can say with 100% certainty that while I seek treatments for my child with autism, my acceptance of him is unconditional.
The Spectrum of Awareness: Shining a Light on Severe Autism
With the celebratory tone of autism awareness month, it’s easy to overlook common aspects of the autistic experience that no reasonable person would salute. To achieve a meaningful level of autism awareness, one that benefits all autistic individuals, we need to tell the stories that are hard to hear.
What is wrong with The Labour Party’s “Autism Neurodiversity Manifesto” and autism identity politics?
Recently in the UK, a “Neurodiversity Manifesto” has been shared by the Labour Party. It has five key principles, each of them lacking in nuance, unreflective of the lived experiences, and ignoring research data.
Brothers on the Spectrum: My experience of sibling love, loss & severe autism
My memories of Jake playback on a snowy loop, a well-worn tape of sweet memories, always ending with the same tragic scene. But he lives on in my mind, inspiring me to move forward in my life while anchoring me to a brief time of companionship, freedom and happiness…I honour his memory by advocating for the rights of those like my little brother.
Join me at the Thinking Autism Conference. Let’s learn together.
The Thinking Autism conference blends the opportunity to quench my thirst for autism knowledge, attend accessible social events where I can meet those unique individuals I have built a friendship with online, and the necessary support from dedicated members of the Thinking Autism team, all of whom have a lifetime of first-hand autism experience.
All In A Row: Triumph of Art over Dogma
Today has been a day filled with anxiety and excitement in equal measure for this autistic humanoid. Driven by a love of puppetry, my interest in all things autism and a passion for the humble locomotive, I’ve broken my usually ironclad routine to make the 350 mile round trip to see All In a Row. For the uninitiated, it’s the somewhat controversial theatrical production featuring the severely autistic Laurence and his dysfunctional family…
Interested in more insights and facts about autism? Read Thinking Autism science articles
Synchrony 2019 – Translational Research in Autism symposia
The first Brain Foundation annual symposia, Pleasanton, California 8-10 of Nov 2019, aimed to connect researchers with clinicians, donors & stake holders to help translate research efforts into evidence-based treatments for autism and its co-morbidities. It highlighted the need for multidisciplinary collaboration, detailed diagnostics and personalised treatment…
Transcranial direct current stimulation tDCS – a novel treatment for autism?
One of the treatment modalities that has shown the greatest promise for reducing symptoms of autism in recent years is transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). The most recent study confirmed and expanded on the findings of previous investigations, which strongly indicate that tDCS could have positive effects on cognition, behaviour and physical health, and improve quality of life and autonomy for a large percentage of individuals with autism.
Cannabis for Treating Core and Comorbid Autism Symptoms – Where are we at?
Several studies published in recent months investigated the effects of cannabis-based products for treating autism. Although the studies were open-label and relatively small in scale, the overall results were overwhelmingly positive, with statistically significant improvements in social communication, language, restrictive/repetitive and challenging behaviours.
Century-old drug offers new hope for autism treatment
A small double-blind, placebo-controlled trial shows dramatic effects of suramin as a treatment for autism. Improvements were seen in all three core features of autism: language, social interactions, and restricted or repetitive behaviours across multiple diagnostics in multiple tests in all who received the active treatments, absent in the placebo arm
Higher rates of autism in children with various congenital disorders
Children with Congenital Heart Disease, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Neurofibromatosis Type 1 suffer high rates of autism. Everolimus, an mTOR inhibitor with strong neuro-inflammation attenuating effects, reduces core autism symptoms in some children with TSC, epilepsy and autism…
Autism should be approached as a chronic health condition, scientists recommend
Numerous medical conditions are significantly more prevalent in children and adults with autism, including allergy and/or immunologic, musculoskeletal, neurologic, psychiatric and gastrointestinal conditions. Early childhood health problems can be used to spot children at high risk of autism…
Diuretic drug improves core autism symptoms
Double-blind randomized multicenter trial finds bumetanide ameliorates core symptoms of autism.A medical drug normally used to relieve fluid retention has been repurposed as a treatment for the core symptoms of autism. Following on from the promising results of their...
ACTH therapy benefits stuttering and autism
Adrenocorticotropic hormone therapy in patients with nighttime subclinical seizure activity improves their stuttering and autism symptoms ACTH therapy improves core symptoms of autism alongside EEG parameters and sublinical seizures. In a retrospective study a total...
Perinatal risk factors and pregnancy complication associated with autism
Babies who are exposed to perinatal complicatios incl. asphyxia, preeclampsia, and meconium-stained amniotic fluid, are at increased risk of developing autism. The risk is especially high for babies exposed to complications both before and during birth.