I'm 14 years old, and a couple days ago at school one of my friends brought up how their cousin has trouble communicating since he has autism. Can anybody tell me what the symptoms of autism are, and how it can be treated? (If it can be treated.) thanks.

Another form of autism is Aspergers which is a high functioning autism. a few different degress of Autisn. High functioning can function at school with min. problems and don't need a, EA or other to help. Some can grow up to be able to take care of them selves and have reasonable normal lives but still may not be confident in all aspects of life situations. In serious autism & most common symptoms are not making eye contact with others, don't like to touch or be touched, will have fits if they do not get there way, have difficulty with speech, social skills and not being of the age that they are in numbers, some have fears of the dark or others but most have fears which tend to really freak them out. ie: if an autism child is 12 he/she may still act 8 years old or younger, depending on the severity. all cases have to be diagnoses by a proper behavior specialist and Dr's have to be involved. but also if diagnosed you are entitle to special government money if a proper diagnosis has been made, plus special programs will be provided. all has to be handled through your GP and then all goes from there.

ScienceDaily (Dec. 2, 2010) — Researchers at Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital and the University of Utah have developed the best biologically based test for autism to date. the test was able to detect the disorder in individuals with high-functioning autism with 94 percent accuracy.

The study will be published online the week of November 29th in Autism Research.

The test, which uses MRI to measure deviations in brain circuitry, could someday replace the subjective test now used to identify those with the disorder. It could also lead to a better understanding of autism and to better management and treatments of affected individuals.

"this is not yet ready for prime time use in the clinic yet, but the findings are the most promising thus far," said lead author Nicholas Lange, ScD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and director of the Neurostatistics Laboratory at McLean. "indeed, we have new ways to discover more about the biological basis of autism and how to improve the lives of individuals with the disorder," said senior author Janet Lainhart, MD, Principal Investigator of the research at the University of Utah.

The Harvard-McLean and University of Utah researchers used the test on two groups of subjects. one group consisted of individuals who had previously been diagnosed with high-functioning autism using the standard subjective scoring system. That system is based on assessing patients and questioning their parents about their functionality in a variety of areas including language, social functioning, and behavior. the second group studied was a control group consisting of normally developing individuals.

The subjects were put in an MRI scanner that was programmed to be sensitive to water diffusion along the axons of the brain to measure microscopic features of the brain’s circuitry. the Lange-Lainhart test employs Diffusion Tensor Imaging.

"It provides pictures and measurements of the microscopic fiber structures of the brain that enable language, social and emotional functioning, which can reveal deviations that are not found in those without autism," Lange said.

A repeat study using two different sets of subjects showed the same high level of performance.

"the differences picked up on the study correlate with clinical symptoms that are part of the features of autism," Lainhart said. "There is less directional flow to and from brain regions where there should be more information exchange," said Lange.

The collaborative research group will further study and develop the test with more findings due out in a year or two. Future studies will look at patients with high-severity autism, younger children, and patients with brain disorders such as developmental language disorders, ADHD and OCD, who do not have autism.

If the test demonstrates further success, it could someday replace the current subjective system of diagnosing autism, which is not biologically based.

It could also someday lead to pinpointing how autism develops. "we can gain a better understanding of how this disorder arises and changes over the lifetime of an individual, and derive more effective treatments," said Lainhart.

Co-authors included: Molly DuBray, Alyson Froehlich, Brad Wright, P. Thomas Fletcher, all of the University of Utah, Erin Bigler of Brigham Young University, Nagesh Adluru, Alexander Alexander, and Jee Eun Lee of the University of Wisconsin, and Michael Froimowitz and Caitlin Ravichandran at Harvard and McLean.

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Story Source:

the above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by McLean Hospital.

Journal Reference:

1. Nicholas Lange, Molly B. DuBray, Jee Eun Lee, Michael P. Froimowitz, Alyson Froehlich, Nagesh Adluru, Brad Wright, Caitlin Ravichandran, P. Thomas Fletcher, Erin D. Bigler, Andrew L. Alexander and Janet E. Lainhart. Atypical diffusion tensor hemispheric asymmetry in autism. Autism Research, 2 Dec 2010 DOI: 10.1002/aur.162

Note: if no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: this article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

What a difference TWO decades make! Specialists are able to detect the symptoms of autism earlier and earlier, and while it is never the diagnosis that parents want to hear, there are so many resources available now from the very beginning. I asked parents of children with autism as well as individuals on the autism spectrum to offer their best advice for families of a newly diagnosed child. Here is list of 10 crucial things to help you get started:

1)Allow yourself time to grieve.

2)Susan Woolner, mother of three boys including twins with autism,(I always listen to a mother of TWINS with autism!) recommends Autism Speaks 100 day kit. The 100 day kit, along with the Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Tool Kit, were created specifically for newly diagnosed families to make the best possible use of the 100 days following their child’s diagnosis of autism or AS/HFA.

3)Meet other parents and build community with them. also, seek out parents who are “veterans” in the ASD journey. The benefits of being with other people who “get it” cannot be explained in words.

4)Educate yourself on your state law and school district policies. You are the best advocate for your child. Remember that they are children first and that they just happen to have autism.

5)Don’t blame yourself or your spouse.

6)Pick your battles.(Amen to that!!)

7)The internet can make you crazy! You will find a lot of support, but you can also find a lot of false promises.

9)Even though you will occasionally feel like you’re losing your mind, do your best to keep your sense of humor. Autism itself is not funny but it DOES create some situations that are.

10)”No matter the level of his or her challenges,” says’s Lindsey Nebeker, a pianist/songwriter and autism advocate who herself is on the autism spectrum, “your child has a place in this world. your child has a voice.”

Great book! Read first three chapters HERE.

In case you wondered, I’m happy to talk to your group.GO HERE to learn more.

DO YOU HAVE a QUESTION ABOUT AUTISM? ARE YOU SEARCHING FOR RESOURCES?

Send me your questions here at and I will do my very best to help.

Posted By: Laura Shumaker (Email) | November 21 2010 at 07:15 PM