By Janice Wood Associate News Editor Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on August 29, 2012 Hispanic children often have undiagnosed developmental delays, according to new research that also found that large numbers of all children who were first thought to have developmental delays actually had autism. Our study raises concerns about access to accurate, culturally relevant information regarding developmental milestones and the importance of early detection and treatment, said Virginia Chaidez, Ph.D., the lead author and a postdoctoral researcher in the University of California Davis when the study was conducted. Autism and developmental delay tend to go undiagnosed when parents are not aware of the signs to look for, and the conditions are often misdiagnosed when parents dont have access to adequate developmental surveillance and screening. The researchers used data from the Childhood Autism Risk from Genetics and the Environment (CHARGE) Study, a population-based study of factors that increase the risks for autism or developmental delay. The study included 1,061 children living in California who were between 24 and 60 months of age. They were divided into three groups: Children with autism, children with developmental delay but not autism, and children with typical development. The evaluations of Hispanic children … Continue reading →

Last year Kate Wells family went through six TVs in six months nine-year-old Aidan destroyed them all. Aidan, who has limited vocabulary and motor skills due to autism, experiences what Ms. Wells calls severe meltdowns. Afterward, he returns to his usual sweet self, saying quietly, I sorry, his mom said. Like many kids with autism, Aidans fits are triggered by his senses loud noises like babies crying or dogs barking. Even though it has been a difficult year, Aidan recently found an activity that has left him calm and relaxed: surfing. California-based non-profit called Surfers Healing offers free surf camps to children with autism. The group, run by former pro-surfer Israel (Izzy) and wife Danielle Paskowitz, believe that surfing can provide long-term therapeutic benefits to kids with autism. Aidan attended their first-ever surf camp in Canada this past weekend as part of a fundraising event called Aloha Toronto. Surfers Healing runs about 20 camps each year all over the U.S., with the help of donors and volunteers instructors, many of who are pro surfers. The Paskowitzes have even been featured in their own reality show, The Swell Life , on the Oprah Winfrey Network. Researchers remain skeptical. Dr. Wendy Roberts, … Continue reading →

ScienceDaily (Aug. 29, 2012) Eating a moderate amount of chocolate each week may be associated with a lower risk of stroke in men, according to a new study published in the August 29, 2012, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. "While other studies have looked at how chocolate may help cardiovascular health, this is the first of its kind study to find that chocolate, may be beneficial for reducing stroke in men," said study author Susanna C. Larsson, PhD, with the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. For the study, 37,103 Swedish men ages 49 to 75 were given a food questionnaire that assessed how often they consumed various foods and drinks and were asked how often they had chocolate. Researchers then identified stroke cases through a hospital discharge registry. Over 10 years, there were 1,995 cases of first stroke. Men in the study who ate the largest amount of chocolate, about one-third of a cup of chocolate chips (63 grams) per week, had a lower risk of stroke compared to those who did not consume any chocolate. Those eating the highest amount of chocolate had a 17-percent lower risk of stroke, or 12 … Continue reading →