8-item autism classifier shows high sensitivity, specificity

From DoctorsLounge.com/HealthDay News (4/11):

Eight of the 29 items in Module 1 of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Generic are adequate to identify children with autism, a study in the journal Translational Psychiatry found. Researchers reported that the classifier yielded almost 100% sensitivity and 94% specificity.

http://www.doctorslounge.com/index.php/news/pb/28205

Hand in Hand Program @ Stamford JCC this summer

Are you in our local area?

Are you looking for a summer camp/ activity for your rising 4th-6th grader with communication spectrum disorders including: Asperger's, ADD, ADHD, high-functioning Autism or sensory motor integration challenges?
Check out the Hand in Hand Program, a new division of O-la-mi! at the Stamford, CT JCC.

Mission: To improve each child's ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with peers, and to build a solid foundation for making and keeping friends within a fun, relaxed and creative environment.

The Hand in Hand Program includes a daily combination of therapeutic social skills provided by local clinicians from the Child Guidance Center of Southern CT, and an inclusion program to reinforce what was learned and encourage social connections with their O-la-mi peers.

The program has 2 sessions: July 16-27 and July 30-August 10.

For more information please contact Shana Beran, Inclusion Specialist at 203-487-0946 or sberan@stamfordjcc.org.

App is designed to help children with autism learn life skills

From Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (4/9):

A new iPad application is aimed at helping children with autism develop life skills. Popchilla's World was created by Interbots, a company that originated with the Carnegie Mellon University Entertainment Technology Center, and provides guidance for users as they complete daily tasks such as brushing their teeth. It also records data, which can be used by parents, caregivers and therapists to assess progress.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/health/app-for-ipad-being-developed-to-assist-children-with-autism-practice-life-skills-630541/

Computer program shows promise as therapy for teen depression

Trends & Technology

From PhysiciansBriefing.com/HealthDay News (4/20):

A cognitive behavior therapy program called SPARX, which stands for Smart, Positive, Active, Realistic, X-factor thoughts, was effective for treating teens with depression, New Zealand researchers reported in the journal BMJ. They also said that the program was not inferior to in-person counseling and yielded higher remission rates.

http://www.physiciansbriefing.com/Article.asp?AID=663930

Don't forget...ARI Conference in Newark, NJ later this week.

Dr. O'Hara will be speaking at the Conference. Her lecture schedule as follows:

April 26th 2:00-3:30pm
Level 2 Practitioner Seminar: Targeted Immune Assessment and Treatment in ASD / PANDAS

April 26th 3:45-5:30pm
Level 2 Practitioner Seminar: Comprehensive Case Management I

April 27th 4:15-5:00pm
Parent Lecture: How to Get The Most Out of Your Practitioner

For more information, please visit:
http://www.autism.com/index.php/conferences

Publication bias overstates effectiveness of SRIs for autism

From The Huffington Post (4/23):

A review of 10 randomized, double-blind, controlled trials on the effectiveness of serotonin reuptake inhibitors for treating repetitive behaviors in autism showed a publication bias overstating the drug's benefits. Published trials found that the drug yielded small improvements in patients with autism, but after taking into account unpublished trials the improvement lost its significance, researchers reported in the journal Pediatrics.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/23/autism-treatments_n_1441591.html?ref=mostpopular

Multiple anesthetic exposures before age 3 linked to ADHD

From Nurse.com (2/2):

A study in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings found that children exposed to two or more anesthetics before age 3 had more than double the incidence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder than those who were not exposed. The findings were based on educational records of children born between 1976 and 1982 in Rochester, Minn.

http://news.nurse.com/article/20120202/NATIONAL02/102130008

Parental age is linked to increased risk of autism, study says

From Reuters (2/2):

Children born to fathers older than 40 had a 37% to 55% higher risk of developing an autism spectrum disorder than those born to fathers younger than 35, a Danish study found. Researchers noted that children born to mothers older than 40 had a 28% to 65% higher risk of autism compared with those born to mothers younger than 35. The findings appear in the journal Annals of Epidemiology.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/02/us-autism-idUSTRE8112A820120202

ARI Conference - April 26-29th

Autism Research Institute Spring 2012 NY/NJ Conference
April 26-29 @ Newark Airport Marriott

~Hotel Discount is still available

~Buddy Passes, free attendance for volunteers and Angel Fund discounts available for those in financial need.

~Dr. O'Hara will be speaking at the Conference. Her lecture schedule is as follows:

April 26th 2:00-3:30pm
Level 2 Practitioner Seminar: Targeted Immune Assessment and Treatment in ASD / PANDAS

April 26th 3:45-5:30pm
Level 2 Practitioner Seminar: Comprehensive Case Management I

April 27th 4:15-5:00pm
Parent Lecture: How to Get The Most Out of Your Practitioner

For more information and to register, please visit:
http://www.autism.com/index.php/conferences

Prevalence of food allergies rises among U.S. children

From Family Practice News (4/4):

The prevalence of food allergies for every 100,000 children increased 33% from 3,566 cases in 2003-2004 to 4,848 cases in 2007-2008, according to a study presented at an American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology meeting. The prevalence of food allergies rose by an absolute rate of more than 2% in eight states, with New Hampshire having the highest overall prevalence rate at 6.7% of families reporting a child with a food allergy.

http://www.familypracticenews.com/single-view/food-allergies-up-33-in-us-kids/ce53cf0932.html

Frightening new Autism statistics recently released by the CDC

Frightening new Autism statistics recently released by the CDC:

New Jersey:
1 in 49
Boys: 1 in 29
Girls: 1 in 172
Average age of autism diagnosis is 3 years, 2 months old (earlier than in previous studies)


National:
1 in 88
Boys: 1 in 54
Girls: 1 in 252
Average age of autism diagnosis is 4 years old (earlier than in previous studies)
78% increase in prevalence comparing the 2012 study that looked at the data from children who were 8 years old in 2008 to the 2007 study that looked at the data from children who were 8 years old in 2002 data


Link for the full CDC Community Report: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/documents/ADDM-2012-Community-Report.pdf

Norwex...green, clean and healthy

If you are looking to reduce chemicals, save time and money, check out these green, clean and healthy personal and home products from our friend Jane at Norwex.

www.janedarnell.norwex.biz

Pediatric experts recommend label change for ADHD drug Focalin

From Reuters (1/30):

An FDA advisory panel said Novartis' Focalin should carry a warning about a risk of suicidal thoughts in children receiving the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder treatment. The agency identified eight cases of the adverse effect in the past six years. FDA staff and advisers also recommended that Focalin's label warn about angioedema and anaphylaxis risk.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/30/us-fda-adhd-idUSTRE80T1WI20120130