Autism assistance dogs
A recent NDIS study compares the benefits of assistance dogs and pet dogs for Autistic individuals. Learn about the social, emotional, and practical impacts on families, as well as the challenges they face.
Seven Essential Tips for Parents Evaluating Autism Interventions
With over 400 therapies and services available, choosing the right autism support for your child can feel overwhelming. How do you navigate this growing landscape of options? In this post, we share seven essential tips to help parents evaluate autism supports, from identifying daily living needs to understanding diagnosis practices.
What is the best evidence-based support for Autistic children in relation to communication skills?
A very good starting point for comparing different supports is the Raising Children Network’s ‘Parent Guide to Therapies‘ which provides a description of the most commonly used supports in Australia, as well as a rating for research evidence, time commitment required, and cost. Research Autism, based in the UK, provides a similar service and is also well worth a look.
Even when we consider only those interventions for which there is good research evidence, we find that there is currently no single best support program which works equally well for all Autistic children. This is no doubt due in large part to the fact that the individual skills and needs of each child, and his or her family, are unique.
Dr David Trembath
Published July 2019
Supporting speech development in minimally-verbal Autistic adults
Can Autistic adults learn to speak? The answer isn't clear due to limited research. While some may develop speech, outcomes vary. A speech pathologist can assess both verbal and non-verbal communication, increasing the chances of success.
Posted inAutism supports News
New Autism research demonstrates positive impact of early suports
A new research study at the Victorian Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre (ASELCC) based at La Trobe University’s Children’s Centre, in collaboration with the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (OTARC), has been published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
Imitation Difficulties Among Children with a Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Social Motivation or Motor-Execution Problem?
Copying others is important for development. It provides a way to learn about the physical world, and a context for children to practice and develop their skills for interacting with others. There is evidence to suggest that children with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (Autism) imitate less often and less accurately than non-autistic children. While several explanatory theories have been put forward for these findings, the specific reasons for imitation difficulties remain unclear.
Diet changes for children
Explore the impact of gluten- and casein-free diets for Autistic children. Learn about the latest research, potential benefits, and challenges of dietary supports for autism.
Children with early signs of Autism receive supports in their first year of life
Research underway for many years at La Trobe University has been supporting the very early identification of Autism Spectrum Disorders in infancy and toddlerhood with the view of promoting optimal development by access to early intervention. Recent research by Sally Rogers and her colleagues of the MIND Institute, published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders this week describes the first controlled study documenting outcomes of infants with signs of Autism who received supports in their first year of life, well before the age at which Autism is usually diagnosed.
Translating evidence-based supports into effective childcare programs for young Autistic children – yes we can!
There is increasing evidence that intensive implementation of educational programs can be efficacious in improving outcomes in young children with autism. One of the most promising early support programs is the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), a play-based support program specifically targeting the educational needs of preschoolers with autism. Research conducted in the US indicates that the program is efficacious in the context of intensive individual home treatment.
Autism in Girls
Studies at OTARC and elsewhere have shown that infants and toddlers show early signs of Autism, which can be observed from the first year of life. These are first characterized by a lack of attention to social stimuli, and usually progress into clearer Autism symptoms throughout toddlerhood and the preschool years (Clifford & Dissanayake, 2008). Similarly, studies investigating the early development of restricted and repetitive behaviours (RRBs) in Autistic children have highlighted that certain RRBs are present in toddlerhood, with others becoming more evident over time (Leekam et al., 2011). These early signs are now used for the early identification of Autism in infants and toddlers.