Autism's Secret: The Kids Grow Up

In first test, it's correct 85% of the time

(NEWSER) - The sounds made by a young child learning to speak can signal whether the child is autistic, a new study found. Researchers attempting a first pass at designing a voice-analysis software to identify autism found that their creation worked better than they could've imagined: the program identified autistic children correctly in 85% of cases, AOL News reports. Early detection is crucial because intensive therapy can start sooner. More»

Marijuana helps autistic, allergic child with debilitating pain

(NEWSER) - Almost as soon as Marie Myung-Ok Lee began giving daily doses of marijuana to her 9-year-old son J, she noticed a big change: He returned from school with his whole shirt on. J is autistic, has an inflammatory bowel condition, and has had two serious spinal cord surgeries. Before pot, he was in near constant pain, and he used to eat things that weren’t food—like his shirt. Every day. More»

(NEWSER) - Marie Myung-Ok Lee gives marijuana to her 9-year-old autistic son and has no intention of stopping, she writes for doubleX, a new Slate spinoff for women. It’s working to calm him and curb his aggressive behaviors, writes Lee, who had her own misgivings initially. “I was already the weirdo mom who packed lunches with organic kale and kimchi,” she writes. “Now, I’d be the mom who shunned the standard operating procedure and gave her kid pot instead.” More»

(NEWSER) - At least one in 10 children burdened by autism eventually recover, but no one knows why, according to a new study. Psychology professor Deborah Fein presented the results at a conference in Chicago this week, saying parents ought to know, even though recovery is "not a realistic expectation for the majority of kids." Previous research said 3% to 25% of autistic kids recover; Fein puts the range between 10% and 20%. More»

But despite study, treatment remains controversial

(NEWSER) - Pressurized oxygen helps autistic children interact with people and better understand what they're saying, a new study finds. After 40 hours in a decompression chamber, a group of autistic kids aged 2 to 7 showed considerable gains. Experts theorize that oxygen cuts down inflammation and improves air flow to the brain, but they admit benefits may only be temporary, the BBC reports. More»