Family & Caregiver Wellbeing

This week we’re taking a look at two dietary-based revelations that might shed light on how to better treat autism.   First up, a new study released by Salk Institute scientists puts forth the thesis that symptoms of autism can be reduced in animals that follow a diet similar to that of diabetics seeking to…

It’s no secret that hypersensitivity is a hallmark attribute of many children and adults living with autism. After all, as research has demonstrated, the filtering mechanism in their brains frequently operates differently from neurotypical individuals in terms of processing touch, smell, hearing, taste, or sight.   In this space alone, we have often looked at…

As we’ve discussed at length in this space, there are two primary paths of research into the cause and possible cure of autism: the neurological approach and the genetic approach. The former camp argues that by studying and mapping the brain, we will find the key to what causes and what can possibly help treat…

It is a commonly held belief that children with autism can experience a substantial nutritional boost from following such specialized diets as gluten-free and casein-free (GFCF) diets. In addition, many parents also rely on dietary supplements to help their children follow their special diets and provide them with nutrients they may be lacking.   However,…

A couple weeks back, we shared the extraordinary story of Shawna Wingert who penned an open letter to JetBlue Airways to commend them for their commitment to making flights for individuals and families with autism much easier.  For a mother like Wingert, who has to fly with her son, who has autism, upwards of nine…

With Memorial Day in the rearview mirror and summer fully on the horizon, it’s that time of the year when families find time to make that trip to Grandma’s in PA or spend time on the beach on the Outer Banks in North Carolina. However, vacations with a child with autism spectrum disorder can be…

As we tend to like to do here, this week we’re going to take a closer look at two of the news stories making the rounds in relation to the light they both shed on both the effect of age on autism risk and reasons behind the rise in autism diagnoses. First off, the latest…

When reporting on scientific developments in researching the causes behind and possible cures for autism, we have tended to focus on three areas: genetics, neurology, and environmental factors. However a new study is pushing another biological factor into the spotlight: the role of hormones in the development of autism.   In this case it is…