Few would dispute that children who are exhibiting signs or symptoms of autistic spectrum disorder should be referred and tested. It is when we talk about screening every child for autism that the debate becomes heated.

BY SIRI CARPENTER

Autism is usually thought to be a lifelong condition, but a small number of children lose the core symptoms and shed the diagnosis. Some researchers are beginning to explore how common this may be, and why some children outgrow autism.

What’s the most reliable way to know if your child has autism? Is it a genetic test? Or are more traditional behavioral assessments, which measure talking and social skills, more accurate? The latest research provides some answers

Steve Silberman wrote a book called NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity that describes an history of autism mainly in USA and Europe.

Here is his TED talk ahead of publication of his book: http://www.ted.com/talks/steve_silberma…

THE CENTERS FOR Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in 68 children in the US are on the autism spectrum, a number that stands in staggering contrast to a 1970 study that put the figure at one in 14,200. Some people believe we’re in the middle of an autism epidemic. But autism has always been part of the human experience, as journalist (and WIRED contributor) Steve Silberman shows in his new book,NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity. It’s only recently, he argues, that we have become properly aware of it.

One of the hottest topics in autism is the notion that some children outgrow their diagnosis, achieving a distinction dubbed the ‘optimal outcome.’ This small group has captured the imagination of researchers and parents alike, sparking a slew of studies into the factors that might set ch

More than 50,000 individuals with autism transition into adulthood each year.

The Autism CARES Act will devote $1.3 billion over five years to perform autism research and search for gaps in support.

"If you have a two year old that has no speech, the worst thing you can do is nothing. Regardless of what diagnosis is on that kid, you've got to start working with them." - Dr. Temple Grandin

from https://www.facebook.com/futurehorizons…