A social enterprise providing education and information to protect and enhance the mental health of young people
Nicole Rinehart, Monash University; Emily Pattison, Monash University, and Nicole Papadopoulos, Monash University Getting a good night’s sleep is important for children’s learning and development. When young people don’t get enough sleep, it can impact their mood, school performance, health, and behaviour. The impact of sleep on quality of life is a force everyone [...]
Josephine Barbaro, La Trobe University and Marie Camin, La Trobe University With better awareness and acceptance, approximately one out of every 50 children is receiving an autism diagnosis. More and more families are deciding when to share this information with their child. Some parents worry that doing so will “label” their child, or make [...]
Nina Louise Purvis, King's College London When I open up about my referral for an autism spectrum disorder assessment, I draw on examples from the only popular reference I have for an autistic doctor – what’s portrayed on TV. You have probably seen these medical dramas – The Good Doctor, House, Grey’s Anatomy. There are [...]
Therapies given to infants before they receive a diagnosis of autism may lead to important improvements in their language abilities, according to our new research published today in the journal Lancet Child and Adolescent Health. Children with autism typically begin therapy after receiving a diagnosis, which usually doesn’t occur until at least two years of [...]
For autistic children, online social interactions can be just as fraught as those in the offline world. The community at Autcraft, which is built around a customised version of the popular game Minecraft, has set out to create a safe virtual playground. In the process, they may be demonstrating the kind of filtered, structured environment [...]
Around 1% of the population has an autism spectrum disorder, with estimates ranging from one in 150 to one in 70. While people differ in the range and severity of their symptoms, common features include difficulties with communication and social interaction, restrictive and repetitive behaviours and interests, and sensory sensitivities. According to the 2017 Autism [...]
We are researchers who coach parents to communicate with children with disabilities. Here are five strategies families can use to help children with autism spectrum disorder build their communication skills, along with examples of how to use them. Autism affects an estimated 1 in 59 children nationwide. 1. Motivate the child to communicate Create opportunities [...]
There has been increasing awareness recently that many girls on the autism spectrum are overlooked until much later in life, which can be the source of confusion and distress for the girls themselves and those who care for them. The reason behind this has been rightfully attributed to girls with autism presenting differently to a [...]
