Autism Study Planned for Rhode Island

The Framingham Heart Study is perhaps one of the most ambitious long-term studies in medical history. Begun in 1948 under the direction of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute it has been in operation for upwards of a half century. In collaboration with the community, researchers for the study have documented the cardiac-related conditions of more than 5,000 residents of a single Massachusetts town; an effort which has helped to identify major causative factors and characteristics of heart disease.

This year, the Rhode Island Consortium for Autism Research and Treatment (RICART) has launched a ground-breaking effort comparable in scope. Backed by a $1.2 mllion grant by a New-York based scientific research firm, The Simons Foundation, RICART is set to establish a State-wide autism registry and network. The project will link families and researchers in an effort "to spur important and innovative research on the causes and treatments for individuals with autism and related conditions," according to Stephen Sheinkopf, Ph.D., a clinical researcher at Women & Infants Hospital and co-director of the RI-CART project.

Over the next three years, the project aims to enroll over 1,000 children and adults with autism. With just over one million residents over 1,000 square miles, it is estimated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention there are about 10,000 people with autism in Rhode Island.

For more information about the RICART project, visit the Women and Infants Hospital website.

New Study Suggests Autism Affects Male and Female Brains Differently

According to a new study, autism may affect the brains of men and women differently.

The study, conducted by scientists at the Autism Research Center at the University of Cambridge, UK, used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine the brains of 120 males and females with and without autism.

The tests found that the brain anatomies of females with autism were substantially different when compared to the brains of their male counterparts, while at the same time exhibiting traits more closely related to males without autism.

"What we have known about autism to date is mainly male-biased, said Dr Meng-Chuan Lai, the lead author of the study. "This research shows that it is possible that the effect of autism manifests differently according to one's gender."

The discovery may also relate to an idea known as the extreme male brain theory of autism, which hypothesizes that autism is actually an extreme version of the typical male brain profile.

"The key message is that researchers should not really assume that what we know about autism in males will always be applicable to females."

For more about the study, see BBC News Health.

For a full text of this study, see the June issue of the Oxford Journal of Neurology, Brain.

Asperger's Syndrome, Then and Now

Introducing characters with Asperger's syndrome in popular sitcoms seems to be trending these days. Television shows such as Parenthood and The Big Bang Theory may arguably be to account for bringing the disorder to light in living rooms across the country where disabilities might not otherwise be a commonly discussed topic. In fact - at least up until very recently - Asperger's syndrome has been considered to be a part of one of the most misunderstood neurological conditions in modern times: autism.

So what is Asperger's Syndrome?

Asperger's syndrome is a developmental disorder characterized by multiple symptoms including impairment in social interactions,; repetitive behaviors, a restricted range of interests and activities, and, sometimes, delayed motor development, leading to clumsiness or uncoordinated movement.

Unlike some other diagnoses now or previously on the autism spectrum, Asperger's syndrome has been understood to not entail any significant delay in cognitive development or general delay in language; indeed some children and adults with Asperger's even demonstrate a precocious vocabulary – often in a highly specialized field of interest.

Asperger's Syndrome was first identified in 1944 by Austiran peditrician Hans Asperger, for whom the disorder was named. The modern conception of the eponymous syndrome, however, came into existence in 1981 and, after going through a period of popularization, became standardized as a diagnosis in the early 1990s.

This latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) marks the first major revision in the definition of autism spectrum disorder in more than twenty years. Published by the American Psychiatric Association in March of 2013, the manual - relied upon by clinicians, researchers, and even insurance companies - officially eliminated Asperger's syndrome as a distinct diagnosis, in favor of using the "autism spectrum" as a catch-all for previously separate categories of autism.

It remains to be seen exactly how this change in the diagnosis of autism - and with it, the recognition of Asperger's as a distinguishable disorder - will affect the personal lives and professional fields of those affected by or concerned with it. It is certain, however, to continue the conversation about what autism, and Asperger's, is, and provide some commentary on how we, as a culture, address it; from the obscure screeds of clinical history to the television screen of the modern family.

Defining Autism

Chances are you've heard of autism; but unless you, a friend, relative or loved one has been affected by autism, you might not understand what it is.

Autism is a general term for a group of neurodevelopmental (brain development) disorders characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors.

The word "autism" has been in use for about 100 years, but only since the 1940s has it been described in such detail that several distinct diagnoses of autism have been recognized. The fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published in 1994, has helped clinicians and researchers to define several different diagnoses of autism including autistic disorder, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger syndrome. The fifth edition of the DSM, published in 2013, has been the focus of some media attention as of late, for that it effectively eliminates these previously separate diagnoses, grouping them into a single category known as Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD.

Some Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder

The symptoms of ASD are myriad, including significant impairments in social interaction and communication skills, as well as the presence of extremely challenging behaviors. For instance, people with ASD might have delayed speech and language skills; they might repeat words or phrases over and over, or give unrelated answers to questions. They might show flat or inappropriate facial expressions, and may not understand jokes, sarcasm, or teasing.

People with ASD might also exhibit obsessive interests, an insistence on sameness, resistance to change and repetitive motor behaviors such as hand flapping or body rocking. Many individuals with autism spectrum disorder might also have significant cognitive impairments, although some have typical or even above average IQs.

These, of course, are just a few examples; a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder may depend on many other factors, as there is a wide degree of variation in the way it affects people.

Causes Of and Treatment For ASD

Although there is no known single cause for autism spectrum disorder, it appears to have its roots in very early brain development. Scientists are unsure what, if any, environmental triggers may be involved in autism, however the best available science points to important genetic components.

We do know that the most obvious signs and symptoms of autism tend to emerge between 2 and 3 years of age. Furthermore, studies suggest that autism is four times more likely to affect boys than girls, and is found in all racial, ethnic, and social groups.

There is no known cure for autism, but early intervention with proven behavioral therapies can improve outcomes.

Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention, or EIBI, is a method of therapy based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and has been shown to be effective in remediating the intellectual, linguistic, and adaptive challenges associated with autism.

Perspectives Corporation's Autism Center of Excellence offers both home-based and center-based EIBI services in Rhode Island, utilizing an ABA methodology which is designed and implemented by highly skilled, and experienced Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs).

Presently, no other form of intervention offers comparable evidence of effectiveness.

To enroll your child in Perspectives Corporation’s EIBI services, your application must be submitted to, and approved by, CEDARR (Comprehensive Evaluation Diagnosis Assessment Referral Re-evaluation) family center services, which is part of the Department of Human Services.

For more information on Perspectives' EIBI services, or to find a CEDARR Center near you, please visit www.perspectivescorporation.com/autism.

For more information on Autism Spectrum Disorder, a wealth of resources are available online. Autism Speaks, a leading autism science and advocacy organization, is a great place to start.

What is Applied Behavior Analysis?

The discovery that your child has an Autism Spectrum Disorder can be wholly overwhelming, leaving you with many unanswered questions. Perspectives Corporation’s Autism Center of Excellence helps to answer those questions, providing the tools you need to make important decisions regarding your child or loved one by developing and implementing highly effective, family-centric Autism treatment programs utilizing an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) methodology.

So what is Applied Behavior Analysis?

Behavior analysis is a scientifically validated approach to understanding behavior and how it is affected by the environment. On a practical level, one application of behavior analysis is the principle of positive reinforcement; when a behavior is followed by reward, that behavior is more likely to be repeated. ABA uses such principles and techniques to bring about meaningful and positive change in behavior, and can foster basic skills such as looking, listening and imitating, as well as complex skills such as reading and conversing.

Since the 1960s, therapists have been using Applied Behavior Analysis to help children with autism and related developmental disorders live happy and productive lives. Today, ABA is widely recognized as a safe and effective treatment for autism, and has been endorsed by a number of state and federal agencies, including the U.S. Surgeon General and the American Psychological Association.

In 2011, Rhode Island became the 27th State in the Union, and the 6th State in New England, to enact an autism insurance reform law, allowing families to access insurance coverage for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) including pharmacy, psychology and psychiatric care as eligible benefits.

For more information on Perspectives' home-based and center-based autism services, please visit www.perspectivescorporation.com/autism