Friday, May 13, 2011

Autism prevalence higher than we thought?

Did you know that a recent study in South Korea found the actual prevalence rate of Autism to be dramatically higher than we thought?

The researchers found that those who were previously diagnosed with Autism were correctly diagnosed.

However, the children who had perhaps milder forms of Autism were previously MISSED! If it were not for this study, hundreds and hundreds of children would have gone undiagnosed for years.

And if there is one thing we do know about Autism, it’s that early identification and treatment has a positive impact on patient outcomes.

So please keep your eyes on your loved ones. If you have any suspicion that a child may have Autism, speak up! You could be the difference-maker. Yes, you may risk offending the parent, but any delay in getting to the appropriate treatment can be devastating as well.

Here’s the article and thanks for reading!


Frampton

Friday, April 8, 2011

Walk for Autism

Tomorrow is the Charleston Walk for Autism and we hope to see you there!

Join Project Rex and various other autism-related supporters at Hampton Park for the 2011 Walk for Autism. Registration begins at 9:00am - so come early! The walk will begin at 10:00am.

This is an excellent opportunity to show your support and to engage in the autism community here in Charleston. And...it's supposed to be a beautiful day!

Stop by the Project Rex table and say hello!

Friday, March 18, 2011

Join the Fight and Enter to Win!

Buzzer beaters, upsets, and crowd-roaring sounds...yes, March Madness has arrived.

This year, we encourage you to look beyond your brackets and team colors and join the fight against autism. On March 27th, from 1:00-5:00pm at the James Island County Park, we will be combining the love of college hoops with the need for more and better research and treatment for autism spectrum disorders.

Join the MUSC Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, and hosts Raphael James of WCSC's Live 5 News and Kelly G. of 95sx, as we make an effort to increase autism awareness across the state. You can show your support by attending the event with your family and friends, entering the free throw competition, purchasing raffle tickets, or bidding on the silent auction.

There is much fun to be had by all on March 27th:

General admission tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

Free Throw Competition: tickets to enter the competition are $30 (includes general admission). Competition is based on NCAA bracket format so there are only 64 spots available!!
Winner of the free throw competition will win TWO TICKETS TO NCAA FINAL FOUR IN HOUSTON!!! (includes hotel accommodations!)

Live 80s music by Playlist and Hope Sound

Raffle to win a Carnival Cruise!

Jump castles and Cupcake the clown for kids!

Sticky Fingers BBQ


So, as you are awaiting the Final Four on TV, why not enter for your chance to see the action LIVE while supporting a worthwhile cause?

Approximately 1 in 110 children are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Keep this in mind as you are keeping an eye on your picks this year. Next year you will have the opportunity to, once again, root for your team in the "big dance", but these children and their families will continue to face the struggles associated with a diagnosis on the autism spectrum. They may be bullied, picked last or not at all for the basketball team. They may not have the ability to show you that they want to play, too.

Please, join the fight. Visit http://www.autismhoops.org/ or call (843) 792-7267 to see how you can help.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Diagnosing Autism Using Brain Imaging

Some exciting new research recently came out of Children's Hospital of Boston (one of the best Children's Hospitals in the country) which offers hope that doctors will one day diagnose autism more reliably, affordably and rapidly (see http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2011/02/22/brain-scans-may-someday-detect-autism/?hpt=C2). While the results of the research are preliminary, there is no doubt that the days of using brain images and brain activity to diagnose Autism will be soon upon us. Results from another recent study in England indicate that scientists could reliably diagnose Autism in adults males by measuring the patient's brain images.

The diagnostic process in Autism is key, especially since we know that early detection of the illness leads to better outcomes. If you suspect that your child or anyone you care about may have Autism, encourage them to have testing-you could make a huge difference in that child's life!

Dr. Gwynette