MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'autistic spectrum'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:30:10 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3059636&cid=t_122961_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F12%2Fsleep-in-children-with-autism.html A new study examined sleep behaviors and sleep quality in children with autism spectrum disorder. The results were published Dec. 1 in the journal Sleep.The study involved 59 children with ASD. They were between 4 and 10 years of age. They were compared with 40 typically developing children.Parents completed the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire. They also completed a sleep diary for their child each morning for 17 days. Sleep was monitored for 10 nights by actigraphy. The actigraph was hidden in a pocket in the upper sleeve of a snug-fitting pajama top.Results show that the average bedtime on weekdays was around 8:30 p.m. for children in both groups. But children with ASD had an average wake time of 6:27 a.m. This was 38 minutes earlier than the other children’s wake time.About 58... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3059636 Sat, 05 Dec 2009 11:15:00 +0100 3059636 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405708&cid=t_122961_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Fd-4iRGPmGUc%2F Working memory is our ability to store and manipulate information for a brief time. It is typically measured by dual-tasks, where the individual has to remember an item while simultaneously processing a sometimes unrelated piece of information. A widely used working memory task is the reading span task where the individual reads a sentence, verifies it, and then recalls the final word. Individual differences in working memory performance are closely related to a range of academic skills such as reading, spelling, comprehension, and mathematics. Crucially, there is emerging research that working memory predicts learning outcomes independently of IQ. One explanation for the importance of working memory in academic attainment is that because it appears to be relatively unaffected by environme... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405708 Mon, 11 May 2009 00:49:07 +0100 2405708 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2329677&cid=t_122961_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fmelatonin-improves-sleep-problems-in.html A new study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine shows that melatonin supplements may be helpful for children with autism.The small study involved 12 children between the ages of 2 and 15 years. Each child had either autistic spectrum disorder, fragile X syndrome, or both problems. The children took 3 mg of melatonin 30 minutes before bedtime for two weeks.Results show that melatonin improved three aspects of their sleep. The children slept for an average of 21 more minutes each night. The length of time it took them to fall asleep was 28 minutes shorter. And the time of night when they fell asleep was 42 minutes earlier.The study reports that sleep problems are common in children with autism. Senior author Beth L. Goodlin-Jones, PhD, told the AASM that these problems can affect the e... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2329677 Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:50:00 +0100 2329677 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2078721&cid=t_122961_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F01%2F04%2Folder-parents-birth-order-linked-to-autism%2F This study clearly shows a relationship between higher autism spectrum disorders’ risk and waiting to have children. Read the full article: UW researcher finds link between age, birth order and autism (Source: World of Psychology) World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2078721 Sun, 04 Jan 2009 16:04:52 +0100 2078721 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2078706&cid=t_122961_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F01%2Fbarack-obama-mmr-autism-wibble-and-woo.html Galileo faces the InquisitionThere is a bit if a hoo-ha going on at the moment about the suggestion that Barack Obama believes that the MMR vaccine causes autism. The ever-appalling David Kirby has poured fuel on the flames by further suggesting that the Obama team has no interest in helping the large number of American citizens who do suffer from Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD).Kevin Leitch is responsible for the LeftBrain/RightBrain web-site which has, over the last two or three years, grown from a small blog into an internationally respected, dispassionate resource about autism. I will leave him to deal with Kirby’s allegationsReturning to Barack Obama, the following quote is being bandied around with relish by the anti-MMR brigade:"We've seen just a skyrocketing autism rate," said ... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2078706 Sun, 04 Jan 2009 11:32:00 +0100 2078706 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=651745&cid=t_122961_93_f&fid=35707&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhemodynamics.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F05%2Fneurodiversity.html There is a really interesting symposium now available by webcast from MIT's Media Lab. Though the name, "Human 2.0" is sort of irritating to me, some of the content is fascinating, including a talk by Oliver Sacks, some introductory remarks by John Hockenberry, and presentations of interesting work by Media Lab researchers. I am still making my way through the day-long proceedings, but as I watched some of the morning session today, one speaker mentioned a video by Amanda Baggs--who was in the audience--that I went and watched on YouTube. I found it to be both a lovely work of art and a striking political statement. I hope you'll watch it. The videomaker (whose blog is here) introduces her work on YouTube this way:The first part is in my "native language," and then the second part provides... hemodynamics blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=651745 Fri, 11 May 2007 18:48:00 +0100 651745