Scientists and researchers are constantly uncovering more information related to autism, offering insights into the origins, possible causes and even at times potential cures. I come across dozens of articles on a weekly basis, some of which seem more important than others. I thought I would share on a monthly basis stories that caught my eye.

~ Maureen

Tracing autism’s trajectories could help explain its diversity

There is enormous variability in the developmental trajectories of children with autism, which shows how little we know about a child’s future at the time of diagnosis. Much of this uncertainty stems from how we study autism. Currently, the trend is to group children together based on features they share at a given point in time, and then assume that children within a particular group will share a similar developmental path. But children develop at different rates, and their individual developmental paths are rarely linear. In this new research article, scientists propose the term ‘chronogeneity’ to describe the heterogeneity of autism features over time.

Read the full article here.

Study Looks At How Autism Impacts Parents

Moms and dads of kids with autism spend less time together than couples with typically-developing children, new research suggests, but that doesn’t mean they don’t support one another. In a study looking at the day-to-day experiences of parents of kids on the spectrum, researchers found that such couples spend an average of 21 fewer minutes per day together.

Read the full article here.

Social-Emotional Skills in Early Childhood Support Workforce Success

Across the country, business executives have observed that too many employees and job applicants lack the “social-emotional skills” necessary to succeed on the job. This has consequences for the capability of businesses to compete in the global economy. Businesses need employees who can communicate well with coworkers or customers, collaborate to solve problems, and persevere to overcome challenges. The truth is, the foundation for these skills is laid in a child’s earliest years, as much of a child’s brain architecture is developed during the first five years of life. This directly impacts the development of the social and emotional capabilities that support long-term success in school and the workforce. In a recent Zogby Survey of 300 business decision-makers, 92% agreed that early childhood experiences affect the development of social-emotional skills later in life.

Read the full article here.

Tune in next month for an update on autism research!