Health News

ADHD and Autism Sometimes Linked
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder ( ASD ) have long mystified scientists. It turns out these conditions may actually overlap.
Identifying Autism Earlier
The causes of autism are still not understood, and up until now diagnoses of autistic children have been made based on behavioral symptoms. This meant a diagnosis was only made after age three or four.
New Drug Could Help Children with Autism
Children and young adults with autism often have difficulty communicating and interacting with others. So far, there have been no medications to treat it.
Antidepressants Linked to Autism?
Taking antidepressant during the first three months of pregnancy could pose an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder for newborns. According to autism experts, women who take antidepressants should seek advice from their doctor or therapist.
Autism Risk Not Just Genetic
Although the risk of autism is partly inherited, environmental factors play a major role, according to a new study.
Electrical Brain-storming
In an interesting twist, researchers discovered about a decade ago that many of the brain patterns seen in epilepsy are also seen in children with autism.
A Failure to Communicate
Usually, the hemispheres of a child’s developing brain quickly learn to “sync” with one another. In the autistic brain, that ability is much weaker, according to a recent study.
Autistic Brains Show Big Differences
Autistic brains are dramatically different at the molecular level than healthy brains, a recent study has found. This finding might offer new insight into the causes of autism.
Do All Children Need Autism Screening?
Doctors don’t need to screen all children routinely for the signs of autism, according to a recent study—contradicting what the country’s largest group of pediatricians recommends.
Medication Errors Resulting From Name Confusion
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting the public to medication error reports in which patients were given risperidone ( Risperdal ) instead of ropinirole ( Requip ) and vice versa. In some cases, patients who took the wrong medication needed to be hospitalized.