Although autism is a complicated and varied condition, there are some tests that can help diagnose children. For example, scientists can look to see which side of an adults face babies focus on. Human brains are wired to look at the right side. Studies have shown adults with autism dont favor a side. Speech recognition technology can look for patterns in the childs voice, such as abnormal pitch quality and rhythm, that may also indicate autism. If one of your children already has the condition, their sibling can have a seven-fold increased risk of developing it too, according to a 2013 Danish study. Another recent study found girls may be underrepresented as autistic simply because theyre being misdiagnosed. The study said young girls may simply have different symptoms than boys, and these can often be overlooked by medical professionals. Read more here: Life Lessons: Early diagnosis & treatment of autism … Continue reading →

A new study conducted by researchers at Marcus Autism Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University School of Medicine indicates that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are more than four times more likely to experience general gastrointestinal (GI) complaints compared with peers, are more than three times as prone to experience constipation and diarrhea than peers, and complain twice as much about abdominal pain compared to peers. The results are reported in the April 28, 2014, online early edition of the journal Pediatrics. While parents frequently express concern regarding GI symptoms among children with ASD in pediatric settings, this study is the first meta-analysis of all published, peer-reviewed research relating to this topic. "Our findings corroborate a history of anecdotal reports and case studies suggesting increased risk of GI concerns in autism," says co-author William Sharp, PhD, director of the Pediatric Feeding Disorders Program at Marcus Autism Center and assistant professor of pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine. "This analysis reinforces the need for greater clinical and research scrutiny in this area to guide best standards of care and to address important questions regarding the detection and treatment of GI symptoms among children with autism." The process … Continue reading →

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 29-Apr-2014 Contact: Holly Korschun hkorsch@emory.edu 404-727-3990 Emory Health Sciences A new study conducted by researchers at Marcus Autism Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University School of Medicine indicates that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are more than four times more likely to experience general gastrointestinal (GI) complaints compared with peers, are more than three times as prone to experience constipation and diarrhea than peers, and complain twice as much about abdominal pain compared to peers. The results were reported in the April 28, 2014, online early edition of the journal Pediatrics. While parents frequently express concern regarding GI symptoms among children with ASD in pediatric settings, this study is the first meta-analysis of all published, peer-reviewed research relating to this topic. "Our findings corroborate a history of anecdotal reports and case studies suggesting increased risk of GI concerns in autism," says co-author William Sharp, PhD, director of the Pediatric Feeding Disorders Program at Marcus Autism Center and assistant professor of pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine. "This analysis reinforces the need for greater clinical and research scrutiny in this area to guide best standards of care and to address important questions regarding the … Continue reading →

Contact Information Available for logged-in reporters only Newswise STONY BROOK, NY, April 30, 2014 -- Would you be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of stroke? Do you know what to do if you suspect that you or a family member is having one? Co-Directors of the Stony Brook University Cerebrovascular and Stroke Center, Henry Woo, MD, and David Fiorella, MD, PhD, have also been instrumental in pioneering treatments and devices for stroke such as the newest generation of stentriever devices and aspiration catheters to remove blood clots from the brain. They are also leading the way in offering new clinical trials for acute stroke treatment. And in honor of Stroke Awareness Month, which begins May 1, they are spreading the word and raising awareness of the important signs and symptoms of stroke that everyone should know. First, Dr. Fiorella says there are two kinds of strokes that everyone should know about ischemic, in which a blockage prevents blood flow to the brain, and hemorrhagic, where there is bleeding in or around the brain. Ischemic strokes are the most common, occurring in about 80 percent of cases in Suffolk County, said David Fiorella, MD, PhD, Professor of Neurological Surgery … Continue reading →