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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Tag: diagnostic tests

September 2021
Stack of journals.

Autism study earns ‘expression of concern’ over unavailable data

by  /  3 September 2021

An autism brain imaging study published seven years ago received an expression of concern last month after its authors failed to uphold a promise to make their raw data freely available.

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August 2021
Illustration shows a woman thinking as she is surrounded by signs with feelings on them and question marks.

Measuring alexithymia in autistic people

by ,  /  24 August 2021

Despite the growing interest in alexithymia in autism research, the tools commonly used to measure this trait may not work reliably in autistic populations. A new scoring method fills that gap.

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June 2021
A sheet of paper cut into shreds, and then re-aligned into its original shape.

Copyright claim prompts retraction of study on alexithymia in autism

by  /  9 June 2021

After a study revised a popular measure for alexithymia, it was pulled for copyright infringement because the authors did not pay a $40 fee or obtain permission to use the measure.

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May 2021
Illustration of hybrid objects: part light bulb, part lab vial, some in blue and some in red to signify null and replicated results

Null and Noteworthy: Pregnancy factors, household language, toddler tests

by  /  20 May 2021

In this edition of Null and Noteworthy, researchers rebut a controversial epidural study, test out autism assessments in toddlers and give the okay for multilingualism in autistic children.

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Computer screen reflection in spectacles of DNA profile, close up of face

New ranking system flags clinically relevant ‘autism genes’

by  /  5 May 2021

A novel method to evaluate the strength of the evidence linking autism to specific genes could reveal which ones are most useful to screen for.

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April 2021
Mother and child during remote diagnosis, with learning toys, in their living room.

Virtual autism assessments are likely here to stay

by  /  19 April 2021

The coronavirus pandemic forced researchers and clinicians to find new ways to assess children for autism — many of which will almost certainly endure.

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March 2021
Doctor or clinician makes notes about patient during diagnosis.

Error found in autism screening guidelines

The U.K. clinical guidelines used to screen for autism contain an error, which may have resulted in many delayed or missed diagnoses over the past decade.

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February 2021
DNA mutation

Proteins linked to top autism gene might aid early diagnosis

by  /  26 February 2021

Blood levels of PTEN protein and associated molecules could eventually help diagnose autism and other neurological conditions — and predict their outcomes.

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December 2020
Global map of 17,800 human proteins.

Proteome map identifies more than 90 percent of all human proteins

by  /  9 December 2020

Researchers expand on the already enormous progress made on the Human Proteome Project

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Infant in hospital blankets undergoes a hearing test.

Infant hearing test might be sound predictor of autism

by  /  3 December 2020

Babies who are later diagnosed with autism have a sluggish brain response to sound on a universal newborn hearing screen.

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