As Monday marked World Autism Awareness Day and April serves as Autism Awareness Month, staggering new statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which were released on March 29, said that 1 in 88 U.S. children, have been "identified with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)." Suzanne Bonifert, who is the head of Speech Language Pathology and Clinical Lecturer at the UT Dallas Callier Center for Communication Disorders, said that medical professionals currently do not know the cause for the increase in autism; however she said the testing for the disorder has changed. "There is better diagnosis available and pediatricians are much more aware because there's just been so much news and information," she said. "The American Academy of Pediatrics has put out a statement to mandate screens in pediatrician's offices for children for signs of autism, so children are getting referred to professionals at earlier ages, which is good. So we're recognizing children and seeing them, and just the evaluation process has been proved to be able to better recognize those signs and symptoms because of the improvement in the diagnostic process -- that is likely a part of the reason why -- it's not fully, it doesn't … Continue reading →

NEW YORK, May 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Rethink Autism, the first and only autism curriculum aligned with the Common Core State Standards, is an honored recipient of the 2012 SIIA CODiE Award for Best Instructional Solution for Special Needs Students, the second consecutive year it has won this award. The Software and Information Industry Association's (SIIA) CODiE Awards recognize excellence in digital content and educational technology. "We recognize the tremendous challenges faced by families, school districts and organizations serving children on the autism spectrum. In developing the Rethink Autism platform, we wanted to make clinical best practices accessible, affordable and easy to use for anyone, anywhere in the world," said Daniel Etra, Co-founder and CEO. "With this award, and with thousands of users in schools, organizations, universities and homes in all 50 states, as well as 27 countries around the world, we really feel like we have achieved our goal." Rethink Autism's unique web-based program provides parents and educators with a comprehensive evidence-based curriculum through 1,200+ video-based teaching steps, parent and staff training modules, an assessment tool, and progress tracking features. The curriculum, developed and endorsed by leaders in the field of autism treatment and research, spans the entire autism spectrum … Continue reading →

Intermountain Medical Center stroke coordinator Kelly Anderson poses for photos Thursday, May 10, 2012. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News SALT LAKE CITY More than 850 patients were treated for strokes at the Intermountain Medical Center last year. The staff is expecting to surpass that number this year, as more people are leading unhealthy lifestyles and are therefore at higher risk for stroke. "We see more than anywhere in the state," said Kelly Anderson, coordinator of the hospital's stroke program. She credits the high-quality care offered at IMC, as well as the speed in which patients are treated. Anderson mans a booth at health fairs and visits a variety of organizations and agencies throughout the year, educating people on what to do in case of a stroke or witnessing another person having a stroke. She said the first thing to do is always to "call 911." A 2009 Utah Department of Health survey states that most people could not recognize the symptoms of a stroke, which include a sudden feeling of weakness on one side of the body, changes in vision and speech, or a droop on one side of the face. About 45 percent of adults in Utah indicated they … Continue reading →

Elizabeth Sunderman Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News SALT LAKE CITY Long-term care is essential in managing the effects of a stroke and to keep additional ones from happening. Callers to the Deseret News/Intermountain Healthcare Hotline Saturday demonstrated various problems within the health care system, as some insurance companies only cover a certain number of therapy sessions each year. While the restrictions might reset each year, therapy is an critical part of recovery for stroke patients, as the brain attacks can often cause permanent damage. "It is important to prevent further strokes and that can be done by controlling high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, but also with exercise," said Dr. Elizabeth Sunderman, a neurohospitalist at Intermountain Medical Center. Since stroke often weakens one side of the body, causing disuse atrophy, Sunderman said it sometimes helps to tie a person's good hand behind their back, forcing them to use the other more and perhaps strengthen it. Sunderman and nurse Kelly Anderson help to implement a successful stroke treatment program at the hospital and had much advice for the handful of callers. Intermountain's Orthopedic Specialty Hospital also holds a support group for stroke survivors, as well as for those having trouble … Continue reading →

Editor's Choice Main Category: Stroke Also Included In: Neurology / Neuroscience Article Date: 11 May 2012 - 12:00 PDT Current Article Ratings: Findings from the study are based on 442 patients with the average age of 66, treated with endovascular therapy at 9 specialist (tertiary) stroke centers between September 2009 and July 2011. Endovascular therapy breaks down clots without the need for surgery. All study participants arrived at the centers within 8 hours of the start of their symptoms. According to the researchers, all the patients stroke was caused by a blood clot in a major brain artery which cut off blood supply. The team gathered data on risk factors likely to influence the success of treatment, such as high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythms (atrial fibrillation), as well as information on age and sex. In addition, the researchers examined the size and location of the clot, how quickly treatment was administered, as well as how fast blood flow returned to normal (repercussion). They found that it took on average 95 minutes from the start of treatment to completion of the procedure. After a CT scan of the brain was performed, a catheter was inserted through … Continue reading →