August 22, 2022
Community Shares:
- New research, which included parent-reported data on over 17,000 individuals with autism, has discovered substantial variability in the average ages of developmental milestone acquisition for individuals on the spectrum. The study’s authors found developmental delays increased with co-occurring intellectual disability, the presence of genetic variants associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, earlier autism diagnosis, and participation in older autism cohorts. Average delays were also more apparent for later milestones (e.g., phrase speech and bowel control) than earlier milestones (e.g., smiling and sitting).
- A study published earlier this summer found that malocclusion complexity and orthodontic treatment were needed more often for children with autism than typically developing children. This same research discovered a higher prevalence of increased overjet and overbite for children with autism compared to children without the disorder. The authors suggest that children with autism may benefit from visits to a dental specialist (orthodontist) to prevent, to some extent, developing malocclusions from an early age.
- A Disability Scoop article details that all but three states (Arkansas, California, and Oregon) are reporting to the U.S. Department of Education that they expect to fall short on special education teachers for the 2022-2023 school year. The shortage is so extreme that some school districts are dangling sign-on bonuses of $10,000 and up to $22,000 to incentivize teachers to become special education teachers.
- Medicaid officials have issued new guidance for children with complex medical conditions, like severe autism, to access appropriate care, even if it requires crossing state lines. Under a new optional program, states can receive a temporary increase in federal Medicaid funding to create a “health home” benefit to have these children treated adequately.
