Pinpointing the origins of autism

CAPTION

This artwork shows a few of the connections in the brain of a typically developing 6-month infant who participated in the study. In the study, connections between all brain regions are generated, and the lengths and strengths of the connections are combined to determine the network efficiency of each region.

The origins of autism remain mysterious. What areas of the brain are involved, and when do the first signs appear? New findings published in Biological Psychiatrybrings us closer to understanding the pathology of autism, and the point at which it begins to take shape in the human brain. Such knowledge will allow earlier interventions in the future and better outcomes for autistic children.

Scientists used a type of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), known as diffusion weighted imaging, to measure the brain connectivity in 260 infants at the ages of 6 and 12 months, who had either high or low risks of autism. The lengths and strengths of the connections between brain regions was used to estimate the network efficiency, a measure of how well each region is connected to other regions. A previous study with 24-month-old children found that network efficiency in autistic children was lower in regions of the brain involved in language and other behaviours related to autism. The goal of this new study was to establish how early these abnormalities occur.

Lead author John Lewis, a researcher at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital of McGill University and the Ludmer Centre for Bioinformatics and Mental Health, found network inefficiencies had already been established in six-month-old infants who went on to be diagnosed with autism. Inefficiencies in the six-month-olds appeared in the auditory cortex. He also found the extent of the inefficiency at six months of age was positively related to the severity of autistic symptoms at 24 months. As the children aged, areas involved in processing of vision and touch, as well as a larger set of areas involved in sound and language, also showed such a relation between inefficiency and symptom severity.

Identifying the earliest signs of autism is important because it may allow for diagnosis before behavioural changes appear, leading to earlier intervention and better prospects for a positive outcome. By pinpointing the brain regions involved in processing sensory inputs as the earliest known locations of neural dysfunction related to autism, researchers narrow down the genetic factors and mechanisms that could be responsible for its development. The fact that neurological signs are already present at six months also eliminates some environmental factors as potential causes of the disorder.

"Our goal was to discover when and where in the brain the network inefficiencies first appeared," says Lewis. "The results indicate that there are differences in the brains of infants who go on to develop autism spectrum disorder even at six months of age, and that those early differences are found in areas involved in processing sensory inputs, not areas involved in higher cognitive functions. We hope that these findings will prove useful in understanding the causal mechanisms in autism spectrum disorder, and in developing effective interventions."

The research comes from the Infant Brain Imaging Study (IBIS), a collaborative effort by investigators at the Montreal Neurological Institute, and four clinical sites in the United States, coordinated to conduct a longitudinal brain imaging and behavioural study of infants at high risk for autism.

La diferencia entre los berrinches y las fusiones sensoriales

By Amanda Morin

Rabietas y fusiones sensoriales no son la misma cosa.

Puede ser difícil decir la diferencia entre ellos simplemente mirando a un niño molesto.

Conocer las causas de los berrinches y fusiones puede ayudarle a aprender cómo manejarlos.

Mucha gente piensa que las palabras "rabieta" y "fusión" significan lo mismo. Y pueden parecer muy similares cuando ves a un niño en medio de tener uno. Pero para los niños que tienen problemas de procesamiento sensorial o que carecen de autocontrol, una fusión es muy diferente de una rabieta. Conocer las diferencias puede ayudarle a aprender a responder de una manera que mejor apoya a su hijo.

Lo que es una rabieta

Una rabieta es una explosión que ocurre cuando un niño está tratando de conseguir algo que quiere o necesita. Algunos niños con problemas de aprendizaje y atención son más propensos a los berrinches. Por ejemplo, algunos pueden ser impulsivos y tienen problemas para mantener sus emociones bajo control. Pueden enojarse o frustrarse rápidamente.

Un niño puede tener una rabieta si no llegó a ir primero en un juego de kickball. O puede que se molesta cuando prestas atención a su hermana y él quiere tu atención. Gritar, llorar o azotar no es una manera apropiada para que exprese sus sentimientos, pero lo está haciendo por una razón. Y tiene cierto control sobre su comportamiento.

Su hijo puede incluso detenerse en medio de una rabieta para asegurarse de que usted está mirando a él. Cuando vea que lo estás observando, puede recoger donde lo dejó. Es probable que su rabieta se detenga cuando consigue lo que quiere, o cuando se da cuenta de que no conseguirá lo que quiere actuando.

Lo que es una fusión sensorial

Una fusión es una reacción a sentirse abrumado.

Para algunos niños, sucede cuando hay demasiada información sensorial para procesar. Por ejemplo, la conmoción de un parque de diversiones podría ponerlos fuera. Para otros niños, puede ser una reacción a tener demasiadas cosas en que pensar. Un viaje de compras de regreso a la escuela podría causar una rabieta que desencadena una fusión.

Aquí hay una manera de pensar en demasiada información sensorial. Imagínese llenar un pequeño jarro de agua. La mayor parte del tiempo, usted puede controlar el flujo de agua y llenar el lanzador un poco a la vez. Pero a veces el flujo de agua es demasiado fuerte y el jarro desborda antes de que pueda apagar el agua.

Así es como funciona una fusión sensorial. El ruido en el parque de diversiones o la pila de ropa para probar en el vestuario en el centro comercial es la entrada sensorial que inunda el cerebro de su hijo. Una vez que esto sucede, algunos expertos piensan que la respuesta de su hijo a "pelear o huir" entra en acción. El exceso de entrada se desborda en forma de gritar, llorar, arremeter o huir.

Diferentes Estrategias para los Rabietas y las fusiones sensoriales

Las causas de las rabietas y fusiones son diferentes, y también lo son las estrategias que pueden ayudar a detenerlos. Es importante recordar que la diferencia clave entre los dos tipos de estallidos es que los berrinches generalmente tienen un propósito. Los niños están buscando una cierta respuesta. Las fusión son una reacción a algo y generalmente están fuera del control de un niño.

Un niño a menudo puede detener una rabieta si obtiene lo que quiere. O si es recompensado por usar un comportamiento más apropiado. Pero es improbable que una crisis se detenga cuando un niño recibe lo que quiere. De hecho, puede que ni siquiera sepa lo que quiere.

Las fusión tienden a terminar en una de dos maneras. Una es fatiga: los niños se desgastan. La otra manera un cambio en la cantidad de entrada sensorial. Esto puede ayudar a los niños a sentirse menos abrumados. Por ejemplo, su hijo puede comenzar a sentirse más tranquilo cuando salga de la tienda y salga del centro comercial.

Entonces, ¿cómo se puede manejar los berrinches y fusiones de manera diferente?

Para domar las rabietas, reconocer lo que su hijo necesita sin rendirse. Deje claro que usted entiende lo que está buscando. "Veo que quieres mi atención. Cuando tu hermana termine de hablar, será tu turno. "Entonces ayúdale a ver que hay un comportamiento más apropiado que funcionará. "Cuando termines de gritar, dime con calma que estás listo para mi tiempo."

Para manejar un colapso, ayude a su hijo a encontrar un lugar seguro y tranquilo para des escalar. "Dejemos el centro comercial y nos sentamos en el coche por unos minutos." Entonces proporcione una presencia tranquila, tranquilizadora sin hablar demasiado a su niño. El objetivo es reducir la entrada que viene a él.

Saber la diferencia entre berrinches y crisis es la clave para ayudar a su hijo a través de ellos. También puede ayudar a tener una mejor idea de los tipos de situaciones que pueden ser difíciles para su hijo. También puede explorar consejos sobre cómo manejar el ruido y otras sensibilidades.

Claves para llevar

Los berrinches suceden cuando un niño está tratando de conseguir algo que quiere o necesita.

Las crisis se producen cuando un niño se siente abrumado por sus sentimientos o alrededores.

Saber la diferencia entre los berrinches y las crisis puede ayudarle a manejar estos estallidos.

Autism Is Becoming More ‘Mainstream’

Written by Matthew Berger 

There are now more people with autism on-screen and in the workforce.

The two trends are related and, advocates hope, will open the door to even more progress.

“Sesame Street” debuted a character with autism in April after extensive collaboration with autism groups.

Filmmaker Rachel Israel wanted to make a movie about a neurological disorder that actually starred people with the condition. Her film “Keep the Change” won several awards at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival.

Autism encompasses a spectrum or symptoms, and many people on that spectrum are challenged by unemployment and lack of acceptance.

However, software giant SAP set a goal of hiring 650 people with autism, about 1 percent of its workforce.

It’s one of several technology companies that have been seeking employees with autism to apply their strong logic skills in the software industry.

Developments like these may signal a turning point from awareness to acceptance of people with autism.

And that may bring a large segment of society — and largely untapped labor force — off the sidelines and into prominent roles within society.

Finding employment

One in 68 U.S. children has autism — 1 in 42 boys — and that rate has steadily increased since researchers began tracking it in 2000.

But just 58 percent of people with autism were employed in 2015. That’s far lower than the overall employment rate, and also the overall rate for people with disabilities.

More people with autism in films and on TV — portrayed accurately — help fix that.

“There’s an unemployment rate that’s ridiculously high,” Matt Asner, vice president of development at the Autism Society of America, told Healthline.

He said people with autism are “model employees,” and that employers need to step up and hire them.

“But in order for that to happen, we need to educate employers on what autism is, and I think film and TV does a great job at that,” he said.

He added that he’s “really excited about what we’re seeing on-screen now.”

Asner points to shows like Netflix’s “Atypical,” which debuts later this week.

The show employs people with autism for both on-screen work and behind the scenes, although autism isn’t the main focus of the series.

Other shows, like ABC’s “The Good Doctor,” which debuts next month, will feature a lead character with autism and make the disorder a more central theme.

“The greatest thing that’s happening right now…is that we’re starting to see people talk about autism in a very respectful way. We’re seeing people weave it into the lives of the people on-screen instead of making a statement about it,” Asner said. “They’re dealing with autism the way it should be dealt with, just as a part of life.”

He cites the Scandinavian crime drama “The Bridge,” in which the heroine shows multiple signs of being on the spectrum, but it is never addressed and isn’t what the show is about.

“It wasn’t a driving part of the show, the characters didn’t talk about it — they talked about her,” he said.

A wide spectrum

That’s important because autism is different for everyone.

People with autism might all be on the same spectrum, but being on the spectrum can mean many different things.

Hollywood appears to be getting better at depicting forms of autism in more head-on ways, too. Films like 2011’s “Fly Away,” last year’s “A Boy Called Po,” and the Special Olympics documentary “Swim Team” released earlier this year, were well-received by both critics and mental health groups.

When it may start to make a difference in hiring is an open question, but the first step is getting society as a whole to become aware of people with autism.

“In order to reach acceptance we need awareness,” Asner said.

“The issue with autism is that you can’t readily see it — it’s not visible,” he added. “Certainly there are traits that make it more visible...but basically it’s just a person with different abilities.” 

With the help of 50,000 families, a landmark study aims to unlock the genetics of autism

By Diane Atwood

When she was two, Kaylee Lurvey could say Mamma, Daddy and a toddler version of her kitty’s name — Buball for Snowball.

But by the time she was three, Kaylee was no longer using words. She was diagnosed with autism and a rare condition known as 10Q deletion syndrome.

Kaylee is now 11 years old and while she has come a long way, her parents are still looking for answers as to why she developed these conditions. Take autism: “There are so many what if things and so many ideas that say hey, there’s this increased risk,” says Kaylee’s mother Candice. “We hear a lot of that but there are no real concrete answers.”

Candice is the kind of woman who jumps in with both feet in her search for answers and to help other families touched by autism. That’s why she and her husband put on an annual community event to raise money for autism research (in the past seven years they’ve raised $10,400). Why she doesn’t hesitate to spend time on the phone with another parent who has a child with autism. And why she decided to participate in SPARK.

SPARK is a landmark online autism research project launched in 2016. The project is sponsored by the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative. The goal is to enroll 50,000 people with autism over a three-year period along with their biological parents. One individual and two parents are referred to as a trio.

The Lurvey family is a trio. They gained their status by enrolling online (took about 15 – 20 minutes) and then each contributing a DNA sample. Once they had enrolled, SPARK sent them three collection kits. Candice and her husband simply spit into the provided tubes and mailed them back. It was a bit trickier to get Kaylee’s sample, but Candice prevailed!

“It took longer because Kaylee would swallow her saliva before she would let me in,” she said. “I had to make a little game out of it. She likes a high pitched voice. I’d say hey, how’s it going and she’d get all excited and laugh and giggle and that’s when I stuck the syringe in real quick and got the spit.”

It may have been a game getting Kaylee’s saliva sample, but dealing with autism is absolutely no fun. Autism is an umbrella term for a group of complex developmental or autism spectrum disorders. An estimated one in 68 children in the U.S. is on the autism spectrum. 

“The autism spectrum captures people who have challenges in two core areas,” explained child psychiatrist Dr. Matthew Siegel. “One is in social communication challenges and the second is in restricted repetitive behaviors and interests. It’s called the spectrum because in one or both of those areas there’s a wide range of symptoms. For instance, with communication, it goes all the way from someone who does not speak at all to someone who is hyper-verbal but has difficulties with some of the subtleties of social communication.”

Dr. Siegel works for Maine Behavioral Healthcare and the Maine Medical Center Research Institute. SPARK tapped the two organizations to recruit participants from Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont — 250 trios annually for the next three years. Dr. Siegel is the principal investigator for the region.

Because autism represents such a wide spectrum of disorders, it is challenging to study possible causes and treatments. Being able to study the DNA or genes of 50,000 people and their biological parents nationwide is why the SPARK study is considered so important.

“We know that a significant portion of autism can be attributed to changes in a person’s DNA,” said Dr. Siegel. “However, we are still in the early stages of identifying specific changes in a person’s genetic code that we can relate to autism or to certain features of autism. In order to become much more knowledgeable and specific about all of the changes that can be part of autism at the genetic level, we need very large DNA samples from people. The genesis of the SPARK study is to collect 50,000 samples from people with autism — of any age, anywhere on the spectrum, any severity, and any gender. If we obtain their genetic code or sequence as it’s called we can start analyzing what kinds of changes are associated with or line up with certain features of autism.”

So far, 50 genes with a connection to autism have been identified, but there could be an additional 300. Once identified, the next step would be to gather information on the people who have changes in those genes. “Say this person with autism has a change on chromosome 22,” explained Dr. Siegel. “We then need to look across all samples and see if there is anyone else who has the same exact change. Then we look at the characteristics of those two people or those 10 or 20 or 50 people who have that specific change. And then we can start to identify whether this is a particular form of autism. That’s what moves us forward toward getting more specific about understanding autism and potentially, developing treatments.”

ABA SYSTEM Concept

ABA SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

 By ASICOM USA

ABA SYSTEM is a set of tools that provide theoretical bases and practical exercises to help the improve of the therapies conducted to our patients with ASD, in order to guarantee advances in their development.

Once the goals based on the data of the assessment are set, we analyze the tools of ABA SYSTEM that a therapist will use with every specific patient for getting the goals done; these tools are customized according to the skills of each patient and each context of communication, in which it has to be developed.

Goals are set based on the level and type of autism, the developmental possibilities for the family and the social environment of each patient; having in mind the goal of have them ready with the enough skills to solve the problems that daily life will bring them in the future.

Autism is a generalized developmental disorder with biological origin, which affects various psychological functions, for example: Social Interaction, Behavior alterations, Cognitive alterations, Communication and language deficit, Motor problems, etc.  ABA SYSTEM adds in its resources the following domains:

1.       Receptive Communication.

2.       Expressive Communication.

3.       Social and Cognitive skills.

4.       Motor skills.

5.       Daily living skills.

6.       Behavior.

7.       Imitation.

The fundamental resources make up in our system are: 

• Flash cards, 
• Books, 
• Interactive exercises, 
• Board games, 
• Guide of objectives (theoretical), 
• Domains´ classification of activities 
• Follow-up of improvements.

The main benefits that our patients obtain with the frequent use of our ABA SYSTEM tools, are the establishment of an active communication, the gain of benefits from the social intervention and the acquirer of the right knowledge about their environment.

Objectives of ABA SYSTEM

• Maximize the autonomy and personal independence of patients.
• Develop self-control and improvement´s behavior in the patient´s environment.
• Improve the social skills of patients
• Improve understanding and following-up of instructions.
• Help patients for a progressive development of functional, spontaneous and generalized communication.
• Develop the cognitive skills, abstract thinking, attention and memory.

Features of ABA SYSTEM

• A wide variety of tools to improve communication skills.
• Gradual processes for the development of a progressive language.
• Training steps to therapists for the proper use of tools.
• A guide of goals and a series of activities according to each goal.
• The progress of the patient is evaluated, keeping the records of all goal´s progress.
• The system focuses on the most affected areas, using short phrases and simple language.

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