Autism Health and Medical Info

Executive function is a collective term for critical functions such as planning, working memory, impulse control, inhibition, initiation, and monitoring of tasks or actions. Executive functioning is mediated by the frontal lobe, meaning any developmental delay that implicates the frontal lobe typically results in executive dysfunction.  Executive dysfunction is observed in conditions such as attention

Your autistic child starts clearing his/her throat repeatedly, and while repetitive behavior may be an autism characteristic, you wonder whether the behavior may be a comorbid condition or something else…  Many parents wish they could know exactly how their kids feel; maybe then they could soothe and treat all their symptoms more effectively. When autistic

Our brains are so immense and powerful that we are driven by their complex workings. Our ability to think, reason, relate, and engage with others and tasks is granted by our brain’s ability to process the information in our environment. The memories our brains store are a key part of our daily living. Memory helps

If you’re a parent, you’ve probably seen your child put something in his/her mouth that isn’t food. During the mouthing stage before the age of two, it’s normal for curious babies to try and chew on just about everything. But when children try to actually eat non-food items past this stage of development, they may

On a bad day, many of us turn to activities that elevate our mood and offer relief, whether it be exercising, cycling, watching movies, eating, cuddling, listening to music or just a simple cup of coffee. These feel-good exercises trigger oxytocin release. Often this is referred to as a “love hormone” or “love drug”.  Oxytocin

Savantism—that mystical, psychological phenomena that’s captured the world’s imagination ever since the movie Rain Man showcased the prodigious memory of an autistic savant. More than a fascination with the extraordinary, research about savantism could unlock useful information about nurturing genius talent associated with the neurodivergent mind. Are savants neurodivergent superheroes? Savantism does conjure up an

Cognitive disorders are impairments to cognitive function (mental processes) to a degree where normal functioning is not possible without treatment. The question of whether autism spectrum disorders fit in this category will be considered in this article. Many in the autism community feel offended by the use of the word “disorder”. For others it remains

Our body’s overall functioning relies on the biological processes carried in our tissues and organs; if a particular part of the brain has not developed properly due to these underpinning processes, a respective physiological dysfunction may occur. Children with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions often also have common physiological conditions that impact their daily living

When I think of the word “masking”, I immediately remember the 1994 film The Mask starring the one and only Jim Carrey. While the movie promises a good time and pure comedy; its synopsis actually has some parallels with the act of “masking” among people on the autism spectrum. The character behind The Mask is

Eating difficulties are commonly reported in children and young people with autism. In a society saturated with the ever-evolving landscape of diet culture and often conflicting professional advice, these difficulties are an understandable source of worry for parents. We, as practicing clinicians, have observed an increasing trend in young people with autism visiting eating disorder

Autism isn’t an easy condition to diagnose. There is no standard medical test, so doctors tend to look at the child’s behavior and development with behavior rating scales and confer with parents and school staff to make a diagnosis. People with high-functioning autism (HFA), previously referred to as asperger’s syndrome, have average or above average

People may not commonly talk about how gender and autism are connected, but in an age where there’s such an importance on educating ourselves and becoming more aware of the issues surrounding gender identity, gender dysphoria, and mental health, it’s never been more important. This guide aims to serve as a starting point for your

Marisa DiChiacchio shares the story of her son Connor’s Sanfilippo syndrome diagnosis in an effort to raise awareness of this serious condition, which often masks itself as autism. My son Connor had autism. Actually, he still does, but we found out something else from the doctors.  Something shocking and unexpected. I hope that sharing my

Unregulated behaviors in children on the autism spectrum and the common reasons behind these are well documented with a wealth of strategies for parents and educators to try.  For those parenting a child with an actual or suspected dual diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) there is far less understanding

Tread carefully, but there are important gains to be had. One of the hardest decisions to make is whether to introduce pharmaceuticals into your child with autism spectrum disorder’s (ASD) life to help him/her with the myriad of symptoms and complications that can make life very difficult for your child, his/her caregivers, teachers, and your

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in a number of biological processes. There are two forms of vitamin A that can be acquired through the diet, called preformed vitamin A and provitamin A [1, 2]. Preformed vitamin A is a collective term for a group of active compounds better known

Imagine there was a way to improve your child’s concentration, mental alertness, responsiveness, and peace of mind in 30-40 minutes. It might sound like a far-fetched idea for many, but the truth is swimming can do all of the above, and some studies back it up. Swimming isn’t just a workout for the body; it

So, you have a diagnosis It breaks my heart the moment a family arrives in my clinic with the fresh news their son or daughter has recently been diagnosed with autism. Please don’t get me wrong, I am not the pitying kind; in fact, it’s the complete opposite. I feel very strongly in arming families

As parents of children with autism, we try to do what’s best for our kids, but it somehow feels like we’ve never done enough. We love our children and want them to be happy and healthy, but we tend to fear the future. Some people might say that our fears are unfounded. The research proves

My three-year-old boy (newly diagnosed with high functioning ASD) has to go for his yearly bloodwork (he has to have his liver enzymes and vitamin D monitored regularly). He’s newly terrified of doctors (inconsolable at the pediatrician), and I can’t wrap my head around how I’m going to get him to cooperate this time—he was