Articles and Special Features
This section provides links to articles and other special features on IAN written by noted experts in the field of Autism Spectrum research and treatment.
Please note that the opinions expressed in these articles are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of the IAN Project, its sponsor, or Kennedy Krieger Institute.
Adults with ASD: Deciding When to Disclose
An adult's decision about whether to disclose his or her ASD is a deeply personal one. Will disclosure improve interactions in the individual's professional and personal life, or will it result in misunderstanding and prejudice? In this article, we take a look at some of the complex issues involved in disclosing ASD in college, in the workplace, and in personal relationships.
Publication Date: June 16, 2010
Treatment of Feeding Disorders in ASD
In many families, feeding issues are a major contributor to stress. But when a child is more than "picky," refusing to eat anything at all or having meltdowns whenever presented with food, it may be time to seek evaluation and treatment for a feeding disorder.
Publication Date: June 15, 2010
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Using the Web to Overcome the Lack of Genetic Samples in Autism Research
The Interactive Autism Network (IAN), the University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA), and Washington University hope to accelerate autism research by greatly increasing the number of genetic samples available to researchers. To do so, we need to show that we can quickly recruit U.S. families of children on the autism spectrum over the web, and then help them get their genetic sample submitted without having to leave their own neighborhood.
Publication Date: June 9, 2010
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IAN Research Report #15 -- April 2010: Grandparents of Children with ASD, Part 2
In part 2 of the April IAN Research Report, we share more about the invaluable contributions grandparents make when grandchildren have ASD. These grandparents tell us they move closer to their adult children to help care for grandchildren with ASD, give extra attention to siblings who don't have ASD, provide financial and moral support to the family -- and still make time to be fierce advocates in the field of ASD.
Publication Date: April 30, 2010
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IAN Research Report #14 -- April 2010: Grandparents of Children with ASD, Part 1
Like others in the family, grandparents of children with ASD cope with grief, search for answers, and try to define their role in this new situation. Experiences are remarkably diverse, but one thing is clear: grandparents often play a major part and experience their own stresses and triumphs in these families.
Publication Date: April 6, 2010
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The Autism Tissue Program
Key to gaining an understanding of ASD at the cellular and molecular levels is brain research, particularly studies using post-mortem brain tissue. Read about the one-of-a-kind Autism Tissue Program to find out how you can help this critical field of research to survive -- and thrive.
Publication Date: March 5, 2010
Careful Counting: How Many People Have an ASD?
Once considered a rare disorder, autism seems to be on the rise. But are ASDs really increasing, better recognized, or both? In this article, Connie Anderson, IAN's Community Scientific Liaison, tackles the complexity of these numbers by analyzing the counts generated by recent studies.
Publication Date: March 2, 2010
IAN Research Report #13 -- February 2010: From First Concern to Diagnosis and Beyond
Concerns about a child's development can arise abruptly or grow more gradually over time. In this Research Report, find out what many IAN parents say about the "limbo" they experienced from the time of initial concern to the time of official diagnosis. Could a new diagnostic system be an improvement?
Publication Date: February 24, 2010
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The "Extreme Male Brain": An Explanation for Autism?
Why is ASD so much more common in boys than in girls? Some researchers are convinced this is no accident. Read about the "extreme male brain theory" and how it may help explain the striking boy:girl ASD ratios.
Publication Date: February 23, 2010
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A Girl's-Eye View: Detecting and Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders in Females
For every girl with ASD there are four boys, or is there? In this article Shana Nichols, a licensed clinical psychologist and autism researcher, looks behind the numbers. How do possible differences in characteristics between boys and girls, the ability of assessment tools to detect ASD in girls, and other factors influence diagnosis of boys vs. girls?
Publication Date: December 2, 2009
IAN Research Report #12 - December 2009: Girls with ASD
In this IAN Research Report, a companion article to "A Girl's-Eye View," we share our findings about girls with ASD: Both genders appear remarkably similar in terms of ASD characteristics. But...are there really few differences or are girls the overlooked orphans in ASD research?
Publication Date: December 2, 2009
Rules of the Road: Driving and ASD
Attention to detail is a characteristic of many individuals with ASD, a plus when learning to drive a car. What may be more of a challenge is grasping the "gist" of a situation. Is this a skill that can be learned...and how can society support these young people when they are learning to drive?
Publication Date: November 24, 2009
IAN Report: National Town Hall Meeting Focuses on Adults on the Autism Spectrum
The Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism (AFAA) National Town Hall recently brought together representatives from throughout the United States to hash out priorities to promote independence and quality of life for adults with ASD. Read a report on this landmark meeting attended by Connie Anderson, IAN's online community facilitator.
Publication Date: November 23, 2009
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IAN Interview: Dr. Walter Kaufmann on the Importance of Twins in Autism Research
If one identical twin has ASD, the odds of the other twin having ASD are at least 85%, suggesting a strong genetic link in some families. But what does it mean if one of these twins has ASD and the other one doesn't? How do genes and brain development contribute to this phenomenon during and after pregnancy? Researchers are looking to twins for the answers to these and other questions about autism.
Publication Date: October 6, 2009
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First Look: Data on Adults on the Autism Spectrum
The data from IAN's Adult with ASD Questionnaires are just starting to come in. Where are adults with ASD living? Are they able to work if they want to? Are they receiving any benefits, and are they able to get health care? The answers to these and many other questions about adults with ASD will help advocates and researchers pinpoint the needs of this community of adults -- which has so much to offer.
Publication Date: September 9, 2009
IAN Research Report #11 - September 2009: Family Stress - Part 3
Our third and final article in a series of IAN Research Reports about family stress tackles the effects that ASD can have on a couple's relationship, as well as relationships with extended family members and friends.
Publication Date: September 2, 2009
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IAN Back to School Report 2009
For families with children on the autism spectrum, back to school is more than backpacks and school supplies: Is the IEP in place? Is the school team-in-waiting prepared to meet the child's needs? Read our latest report to find out what parents are saying about the educational challenges and opportunities for their children with ASD.
Publication Date: August 4, 2009
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IAN Research Report #10: 1,000 Fathers of Children with ASD Participating in IAN Research!
Fathers are traditionally left out of child studies. But a father, whether serving as primary breadwinner or primary caregiver, biological father, or stepfather, has important information and insight to offer. Read this report to find out about how IAN is helping to fill a significant gap in scientific knowledge by welcoming more than 1,000 fathers into IAN Research.
Publication Date: July 1, 2009
Problem Behavior in Autism
Some problem behaviors can be ignored. But what to do when problem behaviors of a child with ASD endanger someone or prevent him or her from participating in learning and play opportunities? Two neurobehavioral experts share the basics of reinforcing positive behaviors.
Publication Date: June 11, 2009
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IAN Research Report #9 - May 2009: Family Stress - Part 2
Want to know more about stress in families raising children with ASD? Read part 2 of our latest IAN Research Report to learn how living with ASD can affect career and/or educational goals and how it can strain family finances.
Publication Date: May 27, 2009
IAN Stats Community Data Explorer
The launch of the IAN Stats Community Data Explorer brings into sharper focus the picture of what parents of children with autism are saying about their experiences. The Community Data Explorer features responses to individual questions on the IAN Research questionnaires, complementing the broad information offered in IAN StateStats and the in-depth analysis in IAN Research Reports. See what it's all about!
Publication Date: May 6, 2009
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IAN Research Report #8 - April 2009: Family Stress - Part 1
Stress comes with the territory in families with children with ASD. Read part 1 of our latest IAN Research Report to find out what parents are saying about the child-related factors that contribute to family stress, from difficulties getting services for their child to disappointing results in ASD treatments.
Publication Date: April 9, 2009
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Romantic Relationships for Young Adults with Asperger's Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism
Despite the social struggles experienced by many people with high-functioning autism or Asperger's syndrome, some adults are able to develop intimate personal relationships. Read more in this article by Tony Attwood.
Publication Date: February 20, 2009
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The 'C' Word: Common Cause in Spite of Conflicting Perspectives
Connie Anderson, Ph.D., IAN Online Community facilitator, explores cure as hope, as answer, and as healing...and cure as hurtful condemnation of a different way of being and thinking. However, what may be most useful is not to let the c-word get in the way of what everyone wants: a greatly improved situation for individuals with ASD.
Publication Date: November 6, 2008
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Adults with ASD: The Spectrum
Many children with ASD improve in social and communication behaviors during adolescence and adulthood. Researchers are wondering: What distinguishes these children from those who don't seem to benefit from the same degree of improvement? What can be done to maximize the potential of each individual in the real world?
Publication Date: October 28, 2008
Learning Word Meanings
An early sign of possible autism is a speech delay, but most children with autism develop at least five words. Researchers at the University of Iowa are studying how expression of words develops into a deeper understanding of word meaning as children learn language.
Publication Date: October 6, 2008
Back to School with Autism: Reading, Writing, and...Inclusion
For many parents, back-to-school routines include monitoring their children to ensure that this year's education program is a good fit. IAN Assistant Editor Teresa J. Foden examines some of the evidence showing whether "inclusive education" works for students with ASD.
Publication Date: September 30, 2008
Adults with ASDs: My Brother's (Sister's) Keeper
The sibling bond typically undergoes major changes during adulthood. Researchers are delving into the possibility that this bond plays a key role in the quality of adult life when one of the siblings has an ASD.
Publication Date: August 20, 2008
Autism and Health Care: Sticker Shock
First comes the diagnosis: Your child has an autism spectrum disorder. What follows for many parents is an overwhelming search for treatments, many of which are not backed by research findings and are not covered by health insurance plans. Who is going to pay for all this?
Publication Date: June 18, 2008
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Can Antipsychotic Medication Help My Child?
Parents of children with autism confront many difficult treatment decisions, often making their choices only after painstaking research. If you're considering antipsychotic medication for your child, get a running start on your research with this article by Richard P. Malone, M.D., psychiatry professor at Drexel University College of Medicine.
Publication Date: May 28, 2008
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Adults with ASDs: Where Are They Now?
Leaving home is a rite of passage for many young adults, a time of both anticipation and trepidation. IAN Assistant Editor Teresa J. Foden focuses on what researchers are discovering about the obstacles faced by adults with ASDs when they reach this life stage.
Publication Date: April 25, 2008
Adult Employment: Strangers in a Strange Land
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Today's 20-somethings with autism often feel like strangers among their own species when they leave the legal protections afforded schoolchildren to enter the adult world of limited support services, long waiting lists, and scant funding. Those who become accomplished sometimes look back on their experiences to reflect on their sense of alienation in a society that doesn't look favorably on those who don't blend in easily. Find out what the researchers have learned about the transition.
Publication Date: January 28, 2008
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Behavior Therapy Beyond Childhood
Can teens and adults benefit from behavior therapy? In this article, Tom Frazier and Leslie Sinclair of the Cleveland Clinic bust the myth that intensive behavior therapy works only for young children.
Publication Date: January 24, 2008
Sibling Studies: The Good, the Bad, and the Contradictory
How does the sibling bond affect the development of the child with ASD and his or her sibling? Teresa J. Foden, Assistant Editor for the Interactive Autism Network (IAN), explores how researchers are delving into the elusive bond between siblings to learn more about where this relationship fits in the puzzle of ASDs.
Publication Date: December 18, 2007
Relieving Parental Stress and Depression: How Helping Parents Helps Children
Connie Anderson, Online Community Facilitator for the Interactive Autism Network (IAN), discusses how stress and depression are related, the impact they can have on a family with a child on the autism spectrum, and how helping parents in distress often helps the whole family.
Publication Date: December 14, 2007
Red Flags: When to Take your Child with Autism to a Psychiatrist
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Children with ASDs often face a variety of issues including those that are best addressed by a psychiatrist who treats children or adolescents. Dr. Jacqueline M. Amato helps us understand the role of the child psychiatrist and when you should take your child to see one.
Publication Date: August 15, 2007
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Transported to a World of Emotion
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Read about The Transporters, an innovative intervention that teaches emotion recognition to those with significant learning difficulties and preschoolers through an animated series. The Transporters was funded by the UK government, produced in Manchester, and conducted by the Autism Research Centre in Cambridge.
Publication Date: May 29, 2007
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Frequently Asked Questions About Autism Spectrum Diagnoses
Catherine Lord, Director of the University of Michigan Autism and Communication Disorders Center, answers some of parents' most urgent questions about Autism Spectrum diagnoses.
Publication Date: April 9, 2007
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The Importance of Record Keeping
Ron Oberleitner and Gregory Abowd discuss the importance of record keeping and the problems that parents face when trying to maintain accurate and useful documentation of their child's development. In addition, Ron and Greg discuss the future of record keeping and the importance of video records for the treatment of ASDs.
Publication Date: April 6, 2007
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Very Late Diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome
Professor Simon Baron-Cohen and his colleagues, all at the Autism Research Centre in Cambridge, discuss the "lost generation" -- those with Asperger's who grew up before the diagnosis existed. They describe a unique program designed to help diagnose and assist these adults, helping them to understand themselves as well as to access services and support.
Publication Date: April 2, 2007
Speech and Language Problems
Barry Gordon, a neurologist at Johns Hopkins University as well as the parent of a child "on the spectrum," explores the varied issues surrounding speech and language experienced by individuals with ASDs.
Publication Date: April 2, 2007
The Autism Tissue Program -- An Essential Resource to Find The Causes of Autism
Connie Frenzel, MS, RN, and Jane Picket, PhD describe advances in autism research made possible by donations to the Autism Tissue Program. Find out what we have learned, and how your family can help us continue to learn more!
Publication Date: April 2, 2007
A Good Night's Sleep. Why Is It So Hard To Get?
Beth A. Malow MD, MS, Director of the Vanderbilt Sleep Disorders Center, discusses her research on ASDs and sleep disorders.
Publication Date: April 2, 2007
National Standards Project
Susan M. Wilczynski, PhD, BCBA describes a collaborative effort to systematically review educational and behavioral treatment research in order to determine the strength of evidence supporting these approaches.
Publication Date: April 2, 2007
