How to Identify and Understand Autism Research
Sifting through scientific and medical autism spectrum disorder studies can be very overwhelming. The Autism Research Institute (ARI) understands this feeling and has recently published a helpful guide for caregivers to interpret and assess research.
Federal Civil Rights Commission Urges End to Subminimum Wage
Since 1938, a provision in Section 14 (c) of the Fair Labor Standards permitted employers to obtain certificates from the Department of Labor which allowed paying individuals with disabilities less than the federal minimum wage. Cities and states across the nation that are uncomfortable with this provision have imposed restrictions to stop this practice.
At Home Sensory Activities as Remote Learning Continues
A parent support group for children with sensory processing difficulties has published a helpful list of 100 activities that can be incorporated into a home remote learning environment. The group recommends that children with sensory issues take a two to three-minute movement break every ten to fifteen minutes.
Finch Therapeutics Raises $90 Million for Microbiome Medication
Finch Therapeutics Group has raised $90 million to push its oral microbiome drug to treat recurrent C. difficile infection toward a regulatory submission with the FDA. The money raised will also be used to initiate a Phase 1b study evaluating a similar drug for autism spectrum disorder, as well as to advance treatments for chronic hepatitis B infection, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
Dietary Strategies for Managing Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic disorder of the gastrointestinal system that affects 5.7% of the general population. It is more common and more severe in individuals with autism. A new review in the journal Gastroenterology & Motility looked at the science behind treatments for IBS. It found studies supporting the use of peppermint oil, specific probiotics, psyllium supplementation, dietary advice, and a low FODMAP diet as aids in improving IBS symptoms.
Sensory Processing Difficulties Related to Executive and Cognitive Dysfunction in Children with Autism
By comparing a group of children with autism (n = 40) to a group of neurotypical children (n = 40), Spanish researchers established that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have more sensory processing difficulties than the comparison group of children. The ASD children’s sensory challenges negatively affected their executive and cognitive functioning, especially in the areas of inhibitory control, auditory sustained attention, and short-term verbal memory.
