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ABA studies in ASD are not perfect

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ABA and ABA – inspired behavioral therapies like Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions are the most commonly used in autism. They have become more sophisticated in design, using control groups and implementing other ways to minimize bias. But when you put all of the data together around ABA-type interventions in a pile, are they effective? Do they work? It turns out, just like everything, these studies are not perfect. But even using the strictest of criteria, the results are positive for the support of social communication skills. Of course, there are nuances and details, you can hear about them in this podcast.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31763860/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33482692/

THE FACTS BEHIND APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS
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2020: These are the days we’ll remember

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This week’s podcast is the Year End Summary of scientific discoveries in 2020. Guess what leads these highlights? That’s right! The COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement. Even though these events significantly affected the lives of people with autism, and will heavily influence future research directions, there were actually other important research discoveries which impact families. These include: early detection and biomarkers of ASD, different subgroups of ASD, treatments and interventions, sex differences and technological advances to study autism on a molecular level. The full transcript will be posted on the ASF website soon. Enjoy.

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Feda Almaliti, 1977-2020

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The Scoop podcast

Inclusion Sucks. Or, Why My Son with Severe Autism Has Nowhere to Swim this Summer

Three Strikes… and He’s Out? What happens when the regular world has had enough of my son’s autism

https://www.ncsautism.org/blog//three-strikes-and-hes-out

Life with an autistic child can be difficult. During a pandemic it can be grueling

https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/05/22/861079758/he-s-incredibly-confused-parenting-a-child-with-autism-during-the-pandemic

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Managing autism practice from a distance: it’s called ECHO

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Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) pairs specialist centers with community providers to help them manage cases and empower them with knowledge to help their patients locally. It is done over the computer, which is especially relevant today. The goal is to help clinicians and physicians manage patients when local expertise is not available. Micah Mazurek of University of Virginia recently published a randomized study about the efficacy of this program, and is a special guest on the podcast to explain what it is and how it can be used to help doctors help each other and their families.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2762007

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Our 1 in 54 need more

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On Thursday the 26th, the Centers for Disease Control released new prevalence numbers: the prevalence of ASD has jumped from 1 in 59 to 1 in 54 kids who are 8. They also revealed prevalence numbers in 4 year olds. On this week’s podcast. CDC epidemiologist Dr. Matthew Maenner (and ASF class of 2010 predoctoral fellow) explains the numbers, where they came from, what they mean and where the trend in prevalence numbers is going. Shockingly, even though the numbers keep going up, some people are not getting an autism diagnosis when they should.

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/ss/ss6904a1.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/addm-community-report/index.html
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Telehealth: does it work?

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This week’s podcast is focused on a topic many of you may be learning about now: Telehealth. This is remote delivery of care through the telephone or a video chat. If your healthcare appointment has not been cancelled, it’s been moved to Telehealth. If you need to talk to a doctor, it will probably be done through Telehealth. So what is it? Is it helpful? Is there enough right now to say? This podcast covers all of these things for families to get a better handle of what they are getting themselves into.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31969108
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30155578
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Getting through the COVID-19 scare

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These are extraordinary times. We all need to lean into each other and help each other out during this emergency. Today’s podcast is a list of good advice and ideas that we have pulled from various sources, as well as scientifically valid ways of alleviating extra anxiety because of the current situation. It isn’t meant to solve all your problems, but maybe it can solve part of one. The National Council on Severe Autism will also be hosting a “share and care” that hopefully will allow everyone to share what they are doing that works, and ask from others how they are handling the situation. You can register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5189740368572667405

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Autism treatments are not the same, even in animals

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This week the media over-hyped a publication on a potential link between Alzheimer’s and Autism Spectrum Disorder. However, this new study did identify a new treatment target for some forms of ASD. Not all forms, but some forms. Not all forms of ASD have the same underlying neurobiology and while one treatment may help a larger group of people with ASD, they also may not. This week’s podcast explores potential treatment targets in 3 different animal models of ASD. 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32126198https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32123378
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Mirror mirror on the wall, what is the fairest early predictor of adult language ability?

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Scientists study motor skills in early development not just because it is one of the first features to emerge, but because it is predictive of later social communication development, and as it turns out, later expressive language development.   A new study combining data from 2 countries shows that early motor deficits predict language abilities all the way up to age 19, so focusing on early motor skills is imperative for early intervention.  Also this week – a review on why those tiny details in genetics of ASD can be so helpful for people across the spectrum and families.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31429087

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31491383