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Therapy for babies with signs of autism cuts long-term disability costsNew research evaluating the potential cost savings of a therapy for babies displaying early autism signs has predicted a three dollar return to Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) for every dollar invested in therapy.
News & Events
Unique CliniKids a marriage of research and practiceA unique new model developed by the The Kids autism research team marries cutting-edge research with clinical practice to offer families innovative, evidence-based interventions designed to help kids reach their full potential.
Research
Characterizing the Nature of Alexithymia in Autistic Adults: Validation of the Perth Alexithymia QuestionnaireAlexithymia—a trait characterized by difficulties in emotion processing—is of high interest in the autism field. However, the lack of validated alexithymia measures for autistic individuals limits progress. This study aimed to address this gap by examining the psychometric properties of the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire (PAQ) across autistic and non-autistic samples. Using the PAQ, we investigated how alexithymia manifests in autistic individuals and its links with poor mental health outcomes (anxiety).
Research
Caregiver broader autism phenotype does not moderate the effect of early caregiver-mediated support on infant language outcomesCaregiver-mediated supports in general have shown mixed evidence for enhancing language outcomes in infants at higher likelihood of autism. While caregivers play a substantial role in caregiver-mediated supports, little is known about whether caregivers' own subclinical autistic features - known as broader autism phenotype - may moderate infant language outcomes.
Research
CRISPR-Cas9-generated PTCHD1 2489T>G stem cells recapitulate patient phenotype when undergoing neural inductionAn estimated 3.5%-5.9% of the global population live with rare diseases, and approximately 80% of these diseases have a genetic cause. Rare genetic diseases are difficult to diagnose, with some affected individuals experiencing diagnostic delays of 5-30 years. Next-generation sequencing has improved clinical diagnostic rates to 33%-48%. In a majority of cases, novel variants potentially causing the disease are discovered.
Research
Australian Clinicians’ Considerations When Choosing an Assessment of Functioning Tool for Children with Neurodevelopmental ConditionsIn the Australian disability context, the assessment of children with neurodevelopmental conditions’ functioning (across all domains) is of increasing importance, particularly since the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Currently, there is wide variability across assessment of functioning practices, including the choice and use of published tools for assessment.
Research
Perceived gender ratings for high and low scorers on the autism-spectrum quotient consistent with the extreme male brain account of autismThis study tested the 'Extreme Male Brain' theory & androgyny accounts of Autism spectrum disorder.
Research
MACROD2 gene associated with autistic-like traits in a general population sampleThe MACROD2 gene is a strong positional candidate risk factor for autistic-like traits in the general population
Research
The association between autism and schizophrenia spectrum disorders: A review of eight alternate models of co-occurrenceUnderstanding how and why these disorders co-occur has important implications for diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis, as well as for developing fundamental...
Research
Is the broad autism phenotype in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder exacerbated by the challenges of caring for their children?This qualitative study of parental interviews provided a preliminary examination of whether behaviours consistent with the BAP may have been exacerbated by...