|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
OVERVIEW
INFORMATION
SCHEDULE
ACCREDITATION
REGISTER
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Activity Description
Detecting autism at the youngest age possible is of the utmost importance because early treatment can have a profound impact on the outcome for both the child and family. Currently, there is no standardized
mechanism for the early identification of autism younger than ages 2 or 3 years. This is because autism remains a behaviorally defined disorder, which places limitations on scientific and clinical discovery.
During this presentation, Dr. Courchesne, Dr. Pierce and Dr. Weinfeld will provide a review of the state of early identification research. Videotaped examples will be shown of infants and toddlers, as young
as 12-months, at-risk for an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This course will place a particular emphasis on the discovery of novel behavioral and biological markers such as those based on plasma and MRI.
The final portion of the course will discuss scientific evidence that relates to key questions in the field of autism including: Are vaccines related to the causes of autism? Are the rates of autism rising? Is there truly a phenomenon of regression in some children with autism? Have the genes for autism been found? What treatment options are available? The course will conclude with a question and answer period.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this course, participants should be able to:
1. Identify at least three behavioral markers of infants at-risk for an ASD 2. Recognize at least three neurobiological features of autism 3. Employ at least two early screening tools 4. Describe at least one major research study on the topic of vaccines and autism
Needs Assesment
In the face of rising rates of autism, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently issued a 33-page document outlining the urgent need for early screening and treatment of children with a possible autism
spectrum disorder (ASD). This AAP document describes several specific screening approaches that have been used with some success in isolated research studies. Simultaneously, our research laboratory, which has
focused on the study of autism for the past 20 years, began studying the early identification of autism through the use of novel behavioral and biological markers. Other Autism Centers throughout the country are
also studying the early profile of infants at-risk for an ASD. This course will fill the urgent gap of providing information on how to screen infants and toddlers, as well as what current research findings are
on the early behavioral and biological profile of infants at-risk for an ASD. For example, a new finding has shown that infants at-risk for an ASD have abnormal rates of early brain overgrowth. The importance
of accurate and frequent head circumference measures during well-baby check-ups will be discussed.
This course will also fill the important need of providing information to pediatricians that relate to key issues in the field of autism. For example, scientific evidence that relates to the topics of vaccines and autism and the increasing rates of the disorder will be discussed. |
|
 |
 |
