Ask an Autism Researcher
Andrew Whitehouse, University of Western Australia
One of the first and most important choices parents and caregivers make after a child’s diagnosis of autism is which therapy will be most suitable for their son or daughter.
Read more “A guide for how to choose therapy for a child with autism”
Ask an Autism Researcher
Ask an Autism Researcher
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. Read more “New autism research demonstrates positive impact of early interventions”
Ask an Autism Researcher
Has any research been done to investigate the inner voice (internal monologue) in people with Asperger’s Syndrome?
Ask an Autism Researcher
By Andrew Whitehouse, University of Western Australia
From the moment a child is diagnosed with autism, their family enters the unknown. Conference halls are lined with salespeople, letterboxes are stuffed with pamphlets, and life is transformed into a whirlwind tour of a fantastical array of therapies and potions that are positioned as the “cure all” for their child’s difficulties.
Read more “Gluten- and casein-free diet makes a meal of autism science”
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By OTARC Honours student, Ms Lacey Chetcuti
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 Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) imitate less often and less accurately than typically developing children. While several explanatory theories have been put forward for these findings, the specific reasons for imitation difficulties remain unclear.
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By Dr Giacomo Vivanti, Drexel University, former OTARC staffer
A key question for science to explore in the twenty-first century concerns the mechanisms that underlie social behaviour. How do we understand other people’s thoughts, beliefs and intentions? To what extent can our mental states and feelings be shared with other people? And how do we incorporate other people’s thoughts, feelings and beliefs into our mental world?
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Kristelle Hudry, La Trobe University and Andrew Whitehouse, University of Western Australia
Among the many available therapies and early interventions for children with autism, only a few are backed up with solid scientific evidence. But here’s some good news: recently, the quality of autism early intervention research has improved significantly.
Read more “Could early infant screening and intervention help prevent autism?”
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David Trembath, Griffith University & OTARC Adjunct
Children with autism are often described as “visual learners” and said to “think in pictures”. Accordingly, teachers and therapists routinely prescribe picture-based communication systems in an effort to support their learning.
Read more “Children with autism aren’t necessarily visual learners”
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Are Autism Assistance Dogs suitable for children of all ages?
When should an Autism Assistance Dog be introduced to a child with autism?
