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Autism can sometimes linger in the shadows of the unknown. Many people do not understand it, and many people spread misinformation about it. When social norms force subject to be a type of taboo almost it can have a negative impact. By publicly having articles or posts or even conferences around Autism, what it is, what it can look like or feel like we could all learn from this. Some might help find diagnoses and be able to seek therapy. Also, it would benefit to weed out the misinformation and help general acceptance.

Walsh, Christopher . “Unmasked: Openness and Autistic Public Health.” School of Public Health | Brown University, 29 Oct. 2025, sph.brown.edu/news/2021-06-26/autism. Accessed 26 Nov. 2025.

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Many people affected with autism can have social and learning difficulties. With the help from E-learning those individuals can learn from programs engineered for them. Not only accessible but also helps focus by being one on one and following a game like structure that is alluring.

Valencia, K., Rusu, C., Quiñones, D., & Jamet, E. (2019). The Impact of Technology on People with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Literature Review. Sensors, 19(20), 4485. https://doi.org/10.3390/s19204485

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Telehealth is one of the most powerful tools in healthcare. During the early stages of the 2019-2020 pandemic telehealth was pushed and virtual care started to become more popular. Telehealth is an easy and accesible way to communicate with caregivers and providers. Those with ASD can use telehealth to help manage symptoms and communicate with a care team. Some great uses of telehealth technology include virtual visits and check ups, emergency calls to providers and coaches, telehealth visits with therapists or speech therapists.

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There are many people that openly share why they have not vaccinated their children and may claims that people have made stating that vaccines are harmful to children and even that vaccines are the cause of Autism. Especially with social media sharing and the popular vlog sharing style of sharing lifestyle routines and information. I am sure I have seen a few videos of the sort float across my screen while scrolling social media. The claim that Vaccines do/ do not cause Autism can not be supported because there is no evidence that supports either claim. Per the CDC there is not enough research that supports that vaccines in infants does not cause Autism. They recently changed this title on the CDC page only a few days ago to support this claim because of this as well. With more scientific studies that support or debunk this claim there is no real answer to the claim that vaccines cause ASD.

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It seems as though everyday, we discover a new, innovative way to make our lives easier with technology. The same technology has been a great aide to people on the spectrum to manage their symptoms. One example of helpful technology specifically for non-verbal individuals is assistive communication devices. These devices use pictures, drawings, short phrases and other objects so that the individual can express themselves.

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Autism diagnoses have been reported in all races, ages, and socioeconomic groups. However, A significant portion of the population affected by autism diagnoses are children. According to numerous studies, roughly 17% of children get diagnosed with autism or other developmental disorders. This is due to these disorders being easier to catch in individuals from 3-17 as opposed to adults who have gotten skilled at and comfortable with personality masking.

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ASD impacts anyone from all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups but statistics by Autism Speaks Inc. shows that boys are nearly 4 times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls.

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Early diagnosis impacts the trajectory of ASD intervention and support. Technology used for early detection are sophisticated screening tools and wearable devices. These screenings will detect subtle behavior patterns to indicate ASD, and imaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) provides deeper insights into brain functioning providing early identification and personalized treatment planning for the patient.

Once ASD is diagnosed there is technology to help with therapy and for education such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) platforms that can simulate real-life scenarios that provide a safe environment for the patient to practice social skills. There are also apps and speech-generating devices that facilitate communication for non-verbal or minimally verbal children, helping them to express themselves.

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Dieticians may help individuals that have ASD adjust their dietary lifestyle to ensure they are getting the nutrients they need. They may help people with autism navigate what they like or don't like about certain foods, as well as incorporating new foods in a way that makes them feel comfortable enough to venture out from the foods they normally eat. Dieticians can also identify what nutrients they are deficient in through labs and food logs.

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One lifestyle change that would be beneficial for individuals with ASD is changes to their dietary habits. This is important because one the the problems people with autism face is being deficient in vitamins and minerals essential for being healthy. These deficiencies stem from their tendencies to routinely eat high carb foods with little to no nutritional value and their hesitance to trying foods that have different textures.

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A Registered Dietitian provides diets and meal patterns to evaluate areas where some foods could be adjusted. They also provide nutrition education for their patients to learn more about healthy eating, this is very helpful because ASD patients need some positive directing for their behaviors. Many times, Registered Dietitians will work with you to set goals that you can work on between appointments, and evaluate progress in meeting those goals at a follow-up visit (Johns Hopkins 2025).

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ASD patients are known for having sensory issues and food is one of the main issues that comes with this behavior. Food has many textures and it can be hard for an ASD patients to eat. Patients with ASD may have a texture or sensory problem with certain foods that are beneficial for their health or they might only want to eat one type of food that does not provide all the benefits needed. For this problem following a diet is helpful to provide those food benefits.

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This professional helps tackle a wide range of behavioral symptoms for those with ASD. A behavioral analysist helps encourage good behaviors while also helping assess and refresh undesired behavioral problems, such as sleeping disorders. A style of teaching that is used in ABA is Discrete Trial Training.

This kind of training is perfect for that bedtime routine habit encouraging, because DTT uses step by step learning to teach desired behavior. This would help with making a bed time routine something to look forward to making it easier to follow and be used, this would help promote sleep.

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Having a nightly routine encourages better sleeping habits for those with ASD. Having an easy to follow and step by stop routine encourages timeliness at bedtime. A routine that helps promotes rest direct affects brain health and physical health. A routine that is soothing and interesting is more likely to be followed and used with little ones. It can look as simple as starting with a warm bubble bath and cleansing, teeth brushing and oral health routine with favorite flavor paste or character toothbrush, favorite or cozy sleepwear to bed. It is important that adequate rest is taken for an individual with ASD so that other symptoms are manageable and overall health is good. Inadequate sleep can have tolls on other routines in life such as physical heath and exercise, social behavior and health such as spending time with family and interacting with friends.

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Arguably one of the most prominent issues that Autism presents is speech and language delays or impediment. Most Autistic children struggle with communication that creates a barrier for them to explain how they feel or what they need to others. It especially makes it difficult for them to learn. Many children learn vocabulary and language with speech therapists and some use nonverbal language like sign language.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 16). Treatment and Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/autism/treatment/index.html

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Children with Autism may often find themselves delayed in developmental areas like self-care and learning strategies. Some children experience problems like feeding, self-dressing. fine motor skills and grooming or using the bathroom. In order to help them become more independent and cope with these day-to-day activities an Occupational Therapist will evaluate them based on their interactions with their environments and establish a plan to help them overcome the obstacles that prevent them from being successful in the activities. Some activities will include fine or gross motor skills activities like playing with blocks or playing with crayons. Occupational Therapy (OT). (n.d.). Autism Speaks. https://www.autismspeaks.org/occupational-therapy

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Autistic individuals may need the help of a speech-language pathologist to navigate their difficulties with social interactions. Speech therapy can help them recognize and interpret body language, match the emotion to the correct facial expression, and help with vocal tones. In younger kids, who may be non-verbal, speech therapy can help them communicate to parents, friend, or teachers through sign language or pictures. It is important to start speech therapy as soon as ASD is diagnosed so that their social skills develop from an early age. This could help prevent ostracization and increase confidence in their ability to socialize.

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A Speech Language Pathologist helps improve verbal, nonverbal, and social communication skills. A SLP helps strengthen skills as well as challenges an individual so they may improve their skills. They use processes that help strengthen muscles, use acting and scenario role play to talk through situations and responses. Technology can be used to play games such as picture matching, reading, and listening to music or audiobooks.

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One potential problem that should be addressed for rehabilitation for people with autism is their challenges with social interactions. Individuals with ASD have trouble reading social queues and have delayed communication skills. There is also the issue of going through sensory overload and feeling overwhelmed by disruptions to their routines. This makes it difficult when trying to make friends or trying to trying to work a job that involves interacting with people. They may also become unsettled when a process changes at work, or they have a new teacher at school. This could lead to tantrums and anxiety leaving the individual feeling more disconnected from their peers or coworkers.

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This is the most common developmental issue seen in children with ASD. Speech and communication difficulties need to be addressed and treated from an early age because they are vital in almost every other aspect of development. It affects the way we problem solve, the way we think about and analyze conversations and situations. As well as communication in the way we talk and react.

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Professionals that are required to deliver ABA therapy are Speech-Language Pathologists, Clinical Psychologists, Registered Behavior Technicians, and Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs).

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A treatment for Autism Syndrome Disorder (ASD) is applied behavior analysis (ABA) , this treatment is helpful for undesired behaviors and improves a variety of skills, this process is measured and tracked. There are two teaching styles of ABA like discrete trial training (DTT) and pivotal response training (PRT). DTT uses step-by-step instructions to teach a desired behavior or response (CDC 2024). Patients are rewarded when doing desired behaviors or responses and those undesired answers and behaviors are not being focused on. PRT takes place in a natural setting and its goal is to improve a few “pivotal skills” that help the patient to learn many other skills such as being able to socialize by initiating conversations (CDC 2024)

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Even though there is no cure for ASD, there are many methods of therapy one can utilize to help mitigate life-affecting symptoms. Behavioral therapy is important to help children strengthen their vocational, social, and living skills. It helps them learn in an environment that they trust before taking their skills out to the real world. In individuals with severe symptoms, sometimes prescribed drugs may be the best approach, especially if their symptoms are causing sleep problems, depression, seizures and gastrointestinal issues. The two commonly used drugs are Abilify and Risperdal. Individuals with ASD may also see a dietician to ensure they are getting the correct nutrients to maintain a healthy life. They often have nutritional deficiencies due to their aversions to try new foods or textures.

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There are many symptoms of ASD and each individual will have their own experience. That is why behaviors related to autism fall on a spectrum. Some of the most common symptoms experienced are repetitive behaviors, to include, hand flapping or rocking movements; repetitive phrases and routines; and hypersensitivity to change in environment. Another major symptom is delayed communication and interaction skills. This means they could have difficulty recognizing social queues, understanding sarcasm, and holding eye contact. Other symptoms that could be experienced are gastrointestinal issues, Anxiety, Hyperactivity, Epilepsy, and Lack of fear. The two main ways to diagnose ASD are by using the DSM-5 and the M-CHAT. These are screening tools that help health care professionals detect whether an individual might be on the spectrum. It is important to get ASD diagnosed as soon as the symptoms present themselves to ensure the individual is getting assistance to help them effectively manage their symptoms.

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It is common for young developing children and young adults to have a speech therapy class in school, or go to speech therapy to help correct language skills. Some examples of therapy routines may include: asking a patient to read along, or read aloud, and then asking them what they think or what they read, this helps children engage and comprehend while they are talking, listening, and learning. Another example could be something as easy as practicing speech like sounding out difficult sounds, or even music and singing.

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One symptom of Autism includes delayed speech, or language barriers such as trouble speaking, communicating and even reading and writing. Some examples of behaviors to watch include: non verbal communication, grunting, humming and sound making in place of talking, and having trouble communicating needs appropriately.

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While there is no cure for Autism. There are several ways to help their quality of life like support to be able to cope. Autism is not seen as something that needs to be cured rather just a condition that some live with. There are many ways to help those with Autism with behavioral therapy and education interventions. For some physiological symptoms there can even be prescribed medication to help cope.

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Some symptoms that come with ASD are delayed in language skills and repetitive movements (flapping hands, spinning in circles and rocking their body). The symptoms can be diagnosed when parents notice their children not meeting the milestones such as first words or first movements as a baby. With these concerns the doctor can provide a screening and a diagnosis to the child. These symptoms can also be seen as the child develops.

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There are no blood test or scans that can be done to diagnose Autism. Diagnoses are only done visually. In order for the diagnoses to take place there must be several observations done and assessments on home life and past behavioral patterns. A common indication of Autism is lack of social communication patterns and restricted or repetitive movements.

Source- The Science Desk. (2025, September 10). Autism Spectrum Disorder: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Science News Today. https://www.sciencenewstoday.org/autism-spectrum-disorder-causes-symptoms-diagnosis-and-treatment

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The role of the Cerebellum is one of the key anatomical structures of and most common abnormality in individuals with ASD. Studies show that the Purkinje cells, the cells emitted from the cerebellum, endure a decrease in size and number in the brains of the tested individuals who were diagnosed with ASD. This greatly influences motor coordination and negatively impacts cognitive function, which explains the characteristics associated with those with Autism like having trouble with social interactions. While this study produced strong results, more experiments would have to be conducted before confirming the correlation between ASD and Purkinje hypocellularity.

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There are three major anatomical structures in the brain that are involved in ASD. The Cerebellum which is responsible for motor function and balance. The Amygdala, which is the processing center of your brain, processes what we hear and see and uses emotions like fear to tell us if we are safe. It also controls other emotions, behaviors, and learning. The last structure involved is the frontal cortex. This is where your personality is stored. It is responsible for many abilities such as social skills, voluntary muscle movements, and thinking.

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The primary anatomical structure involved in Autism is the Frontal Cortex. The link has been found in this area due to what is believed to be overgrowth in the Frontal Cortex during the early postnatal period.

The following physiological processes are involved in autism disorders: Typically, neuro cell bodies stack to form mini columns, but the overgrowth is what causes the width between these mini columns that delays auditory and visual processes.

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Oxytocin is a neurochemical in the brain that balances control in our behavior. Altered levels of oxytocin can affect the way a person reacts, and behaves. Eye contact behavior and patters, aggressive interactions, sociosexual behavior, unawareness or difficulty following social direction are just some of the effects.

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The cerebellum is in control of motor skills such as how we speak and cognitive processing in our brain.

The amygdala is in control of emotional processing, those effected can be emotions such as fear, excitement, aggression, and emotional recognition.

The frontal cortex is in control of skills such as decision making, planning, social behaviors such as communicating and memory.

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causing the brain to increase volume in many areas on the left than in the right brain. Causing problems in the hippocampal and temporal roles in which gray matter  tends to decrease and white matter tends to increase. There are differences in the connectivity and structure of the temporal lobe in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. It affects their language development, ability to express emotion and auditory processing, as well as sensory sensitivities and difficulties understanding and using language.

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There has been a high increase on Autism Spectrum Disorder because there have been easier to report now. There is no worry about these increasing rates since Autism has a broad spectrum and the community is being more acceptable about ASD and parents are more aware of the symptoms. ASD can be detected at any age but there has been more cases in children at a young age of 8 years. The latest data from 2022 says how one child in 31 has ASD.

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People with this disability may sometimes not be able to communicate their needs the way other people might communicate when they need something. This creates risk factors for people with ASD, especially in children. Some risk factors may include behavioral reactions that are inappropriate in response to an uncomfortable situation or need. As well as injuries such physically harming self or others, being unaware to a situation and getting hurt such as falling, tripping, bumping into objects, or having a slower reaction to pain. There are high risk factors for infants and children that may not know how to navigate ASD yet and are learning their needs, what is appropriate and how to ask for help such as needing to be fed, changed, temperature changes and more. It is important that people with ASD get wellness checks and healthcare to upkeep their physical being. It is also important to be aware of any physical needs that need to be met or are the cause of a risk factor before taking any changes to behavioral and therapy changes.

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It was seen that black youth were less likely to have depression, anxiety and stress symptoms documented by healthcare providers such as school nurse check ups and pediatrician visits than white and even hispanic children. This indicates disparities and missed and overlooked symptoms, including those risk factors. These screening challenges may make it harder to record important data. In the future and ongoing it is important to encourage all children and their parents to consider those resources. Resources include, student councel, school therapist, after school programs, check ups and doctors visits.

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One of primary anatomical structures involved in Autism Spectrum Disorder is temporal lobes. The temporal lobe is one of the five lobes in the brain, it helps you understand and respond to others around you, it is also a key role in communication and ability to access memories.

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One possible reason why suspected autism diagnoses may still appear even after a thorough evaluation is due to ongoing misunderstandings or outdated beliefs about the age at which autism can be accurately and reliably identified. Some caregivers or professionals might assume that a diagnosis isn’t valid or conclusive until a child reaches a certain age, leading to hesitation or uncertainty despite clear signs and comprehensive assessments.

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Navigating Mealtime Challenges in Children with ASD

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Navigating Mealtime Challenges in Children with ASD

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It is no secret that children with ASD often experience difficulties during mealtime, which can lead to disruptive behavior and refusal to eat. The nature of parental responses—whether positive or negative—often hinges on whether the child has received a formal diagnosis. Frequently, parents of undiagnosed children may resort to disciplinary measures rather than seeking reasonable solutions to address the child's aversion. Therefore, it is essential for parents of both diagnosed and undiagnosed children to carefully assess their child's behavior, conduct appropriate research, and implement effective corrective strategies.

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Treatment Options For Developmental delays and Repetitive movements 

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Treatment Options For Developmental delays and Repetitive movements 

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Children with ASD will experience delays in their language skill and some other developmental delays/skills. This symptom can be helped with educational treatment. Teachers and educators would accommodate their classroom and teaching to help people with autism. An example given was turning verbal instructions into visual instructions or physical demonstrations. This is very helpful because people with ASD thrive on consistency and visual learning.

Repetitive movements can be seen in many patients with ASD and these symptoms can be helped with medication but only if it's harmful in any way to the patient. After all this symptom cannot be fixed but it could be changed into a different alternative. There is a complementary and alternative treatment, these treatments are often used to supplement more traditional approaches. Some examples that the article provided were arts therapy, animal therapy, relaxation therapy and herbal supplements. There can be a reason for their repetitive movements and could be from another cause such as anxiety but the patient should talk to their doctor to learn more.