Waisman Center Day with the Experts

January 24, 2015

 

 

Notes from the Autism Conference at the Waisman Center

 

*1 in 6 in the USA have a developmental disability, a 17% increase from 1997-2008.

 

*Increasing diagnosis of autism, ADD.  1990 surge in autism diagnosis--1 in 68.  Social communication, restricted interests/repetitive behaviors.

 

*The term "mental retardation" from the 1960's is now "intellectual disabilities".

 

*Stem cells can be turned into neurons and other brain cells.  The hope is that these stem cells can help treat diseases of the eye, brain, spinal cord, and ear.

 

*Parental Verbal Responsiveness Can Facilitate Language and Communication in Young Children on the Autism Spectrum (title of one presentation).

 

--children learn language in a SOCIAL environment.

 

--parental responses are positively related to speech development in children (keep it positive, encouraging, elaborate on words used (i.e. BIG boat).

 

--study suggested that parental involvement helped most when the child was minimally verbal at age 2 1/2.  Otherwise, it made no difference in verbally fluent children.

 

*Motor Ability is one of the earliest predictors of an autistic disorder.

--low muscle tone

--highly prevalent

--difficulty reacting quickly

--balance/posture difficulties

--complex motor sequences

--diversity of motor skills varies by severity of ASD

--affected by corticospinal tract of brainstem?

 

*Quality of Life Study in Autistic Adults

 

--70% reported a good quality of life in adulthood (same as general population).

 

--80% were bullied in childhood, which was greatest predictor of poor quality of life in adulthood :(.

 

--Mother's reported they thought their autistic adult child had a poor SOCIAL quality of life even when the autistic adult felt otherwise.