Is It Genetic? My 40-Year Journey of Misdiagnoses for My Son

• By: Ellen Feldman Arc of New York
• January 2nd, 2023
• co-occurring conditions, community support system, diagnosis, genes, genetic testing, incidence, rare genetic disorder, survey, SYNGAP1, testing, treatment trials, Winter 2023 Issue
• 1396    1

Forty years ago, my son Matthew was born. At the time of his birth, he had no apparent health issues. We began noticing that he wasn’t developing like a neuro-typical child when he wasn’t hitting milestones like rolling over. Since then, we have gone through countless tests and been given...

A Call to Action: The Need for Advocacy in Healthcare Access in Autism

• By: Tracy Kettering, PhD, BCBA-D Bancroft | Rider University Ashley Fuhrman, PhD, BCBA-D Trumpet Behavioral Health Christopher Perrin, PhD, BCBA-D Bancroft | Rider University
• January 2nd, 2023
• access to healthcare, accommodations, advocacy, co-occurring conditions, collaboration, diagnosis, healthcare, healthcare professionals, training, Winter 2023 Issue
• 481    0

Although specific estimates vary substantially, autistic children and adults have a higher prevalence of comorbid medical conditions than those reported in non-autistic individuals. Among the most commonly reported comorbid medical conditions are neurological disorders, including epilepsy,...

Autism, Epilepsy, and Seizures: How to Recognize the Signs and Administer Basic First Aid

• By: | The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation | Epilepsy Foundation
• July 19th, 2022
• co-occurring conditions, epilepsy, first aid, law enforcement, medications, seizures, Summer 2022 Issue, symptoms
• 1464    0

The purpose of this information is to offer general information on Autism and Epilepsy and the co-condition as well as the types of seizures and basic first aid recommended by the Epilepsy Foundation. This information is taken from Seizure Recognition and First Aid, a publication of the Epilepsy...

A Person-Centered Collaborative Approach to Achieving Best Outcomes for Autistic Individuals with Co-Occurring Conditions

• By: Haley M. K. Steinhauser, PhD, BCBA-D, LABA Sheila A. Klick, MEd, BCBA Jill M. Harper, PhD, BCBA-D, LABA Kylee A. Formento, MA, BCBA Melmark
• July 19th, 2022
• behavioral assessment, behaviors, co-occurring conditions, collaboration, interdisciplinary interventions, interventions, monitoring, social skills, Summer 2022 Issue, toilet training
• 2086    0

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by the presence of persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts as well as restrictive, repetitive behavior, interests, or activities (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Many individuals with ASD...

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Its Comorbidities as a Co-Occurring Health Issue in Autistic People

• By: Tara J. Marshall, BA, SLPA Aimee Piller, PhD, OTR/L Piller Child Development
• July 19th, 2022
• co-occurring conditions, comorbidities, diagnosis, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, occupational therapy, pain, Summer 2022 Issue, testing, treatment
• 7793    1

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) occurs in as many as 8% of autistic individuals with even a higher percentage that may have hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) (Cederlof et al., 2016, Kindgren et al., 2021). This estimate is low since EDS is more commonly diagnosed in females (Castori, 2012), who...

The Prevalence of Comorbidities in Autism: Consideration of Comorbidity in Intervention and Treatment Response

• By: Julie Rasmuson York College of Pennsylvania
• July 19th, 2022
• co-occurring conditions, comorbidities, epilepsy, feeding disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, genetic disorders, intervention, mental health, neurological disorders, sensory dysfunction, sleep disorders, Summer 2022 Issue, treatment
• 2253    1

“If you have met one person with autism, you have met one person with autism.” In this quotation, Dr. Stephen Shore, an autistic professor of special education, refers to the unique and varied experience the autism spectrum can be for those individuals who experience it. Autism is an...

Autism and the Gut: Co-Occurring Gastrointestinal Challenges and Psychosocial Factors

• By: Harry Voulgarakis, PhD, BCBA St. Joseph’s University, New York
• July 19th, 2022
• co-occurring conditions, diet, gastrointestinal issues, GI, gut, medical challenges, treatment
• 1082    0

Autism is a complex spectrum of behaviors and other distinguishing characteristics across individuals, for which our understanding of continues to unfold. Alongside it’s well documented social and sensory related symptoms, autism also regularly co-occurs with a host of medical complications that...

Values-Based Behavior Planning – Responding to Challenging Behaviors for Individuals with Complex Profiles via Comprehensive Planning

• By: By Brad Stevenson, PhD, BCBA-D, CDE® Jill M. Harper, PhD, BCBA-D, LABA Kylee A. Formento, MA, BCBA Shawn P. Quigley, PhD, BCBA-D Frank L. Bird, MEd, BCBA, LABA Melmark
• September 23rd, 2021
• assessment, challenging behaviors, co-occurring conditions, compassionate care, data collection, Fall 2021 Issue, FBA, functional behavior assessment, safety, skill building
• 1370    0

Though a small percentage, some individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities can display dangerous challenging behaviors such as high intensity aggression or self-injury. While the field of applied behavior analysis has made great strides in the assessment and treatment of...

Autism and Epilepsy – What We Know, What We Don’t Know, and How We Are Creating Awareness

• By: Ruth Nass, MD NYU Child Study Center Linda J. Walder, Esq. The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation
• January 1st, 2011
• co-occurring conditions, epilepsy, sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP)
• 800    0

People with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have a shorter life expectancy than the general population mostly because of various co-morbid medical conditions that affect their health. We do not know why but young people, those with severe intellectual disabilities, and females are at greater risk....