Special Needs News - Girls with autism, GI problems linked to autism & Obama signs autism law 12 August 2014

Current autism testing methods miss females with autism

Globe from Wikimedia Commons

Females with autism are not being diagnosed with the disorder because they present differently than males. Diagnostic questionnaires are aimed at symptoms seen primarily in males with autism reports, psychologist Dr Lori Ernsperge. 

"That doctor is going to do a diagnostic checklist ... it may have 20 questions or so [but] they're the sort of questions that lend themselves to male behaviour or boy behaviour," Ernsperge said. She also stated that females with autism may mask their symptoms making it harder to diagnose. "I get a lot of emails from girls and women on the spectrum who say they're good in school, meaning they could mask their behaviours in school," she said. "And you hear that ... quite often from women on the spectrum."

More information is available from ABC.

Children with autism 4 times more likely to have GI complaints

A new study from the Marcus Autism Center compared gastrointestinal (GI)

Credit:  Microsoft

complaints, including diarrhea and constipation, in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to their peers without the disorder.  Researchers found that children with autism are 4 times more likely to complain of GI problems and 3 times more likely to suffer from constipation and diarrhea.   

While we detected greater GI symptoms in ASD, our results also highlight a clear need for more research focusing on GI system in this population," co-author William Sharp says. "This includes what may be contributing to greater GI prevalence in ASD. Clearly, consideration should be given to the high rate of feeding problems and related behavioral issues such as toileting concerns documented in this population. At this time, we do not have evidence suggesting a unique GI pathology in ASD."

More information is available from Medical Express.

President signs autism research law

Last Friday, President Obama signed the the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education and Support Act, (Autism CARES Act). This law replaces the the Autism Accountability Act which was due to expire. Essentially the law provides substantial federal funding for autism research and other initiatives.  

Perhaps the most significant part of this law is the provision focusing on adolescents with autism transitioning to adulthood.  “And the new law, for the first time, tasks the federal government with examining and anticipating needs for autistic adolescents who are ‘aging out’ of their school-based support and transitioning into adulthood,” said US Rep Chris Smith (R-NJ), one of the sponsors of the law.  

Disability Scoop has more information on this law.

©Mary M Conneely T/A Advocacy in Action