Scientific Evidence Research on Autism

Scientists and therapists are working tirelessly to determine which therapies are most effective for the treatment of autism. They present their research findings at scientific meetings and in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Each published scientific article begins with a short abstract that summarizes the important points of the paper. The abstracts are designed so that other scientists in the field can quickly understand and build upon each individual scientific finding.

Here you will find lay abstracts of these scientific publications. They are designed so that you can also quickly understand the basic points of each research article and the implications for your own child's care. At the end of each lay summary you will find a link to the original scientific abstract. If you go to the scientific abstract, you may also find a link to the original publication. Sometimes the publications can be obtained for free and sometimes they must be purchased.

Many talented people understand that autism is an important issue that affects many families. As they work to optimize therapies and find a cure, they will be publishing their research as quickly as they can. The lay summaries allow you to understand the research and apply it to your child as quickly as you can.

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page last updated 11/21/2008

Most Recent Research

Excessive Daytime Sleep: Behavioral Assessment and Intervention in a Child with Autism Friedman, A.; Luiselli, J. , Behavior Modification, Volume 32, Issue 4, p.548-555, (2008) Layperson Summary
Outcomes of a Pilot Training Program in a Qigong Massage Intervention for Children with Autism Silva, L.; Ayres, R.; Schalock, M. , The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, Volume 62, Issue 5, p.538-546, (2008) Layperson Summary
You Can Know Me if You Listen: Sensory, Motor, and Communication Issues in a Nonverbal Person with Autism Shoener, R.; Kinnealey, M.; Koenig, K. , The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, Volume 62, Issue 5, p.547-553, (2008) Layperson Summary
Evidence-Based Review of Interventions for Autism Used in or of Relevance to Occupational Therapy CaseSmith, J.; Arbesman, M. , The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, Volume 62, Issue 4, p.416-429, (2008) Layperson Summary
States Increasingly Mandate Special Autism Services Reinke, T. , Managed Care, Volume 17, Issue 8, p.35-36, (2008) Layperson Summary
Delayed Respiratory Depression after Accidental Risperidone Overdose Satish, H.; Payne, H.; Potter, F.; Nunn, A.; Brodbelt, K. , Paediatric and Perinatal Drug Therapy, Volume 8, Issue 4, p.154-156, (2008) Layperson Summary
Inherited Metabolic Diseases in Neurodevelopmental and Neurobehavioral Disorders Kayser, M. , Seminars in Pediatric Neurology, Volume 15, Issue 3, p.127-131, (2008) Layperson Summary
State of the Science in the Assessment and Management of Severe Behavior Problems in School Settings: Behavior Analytic Consultation to Schools Mueller, M.; Nkosi, A. , International Journal of Behavioral Consultation and Therapy, Volume 3, Issue 2, p.176-202, (2007) Layperson Summary
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Thai Autistic Children Chungpaibulpatana, J.; Sumpatanarax, T.; Thadakul, N.; Chantharatreerat, C.; Konkaew, M.; Aroonlimsawas, M. , J Med Assoc Thai, Volume 91, Issue 8, p.1232-1237, (2008) Layperson Summary
Behavior Analyst Use of and Beliefs in Treatments for People with Autism Schreck, K.; Mazur, A. , Behavioral Interventions, Volume 23, p.201-212, (2008) Layperson Summary
Behavioral Assessment and Treatment of Anxiety in Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism Hagopian, L.; Jennett, H. , J Dev Phys Disabil, Volume 20, Issue 5, p.467-483, (2008) Layperson Summary
Comparing Number Lines and Touch Points to Teach Addition Facts to Students with Autism Cihak, D.; Foust, J. , Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, Volume 23, Issue 3, p.131-137, (2008) Layperson Summary
Physiology-Based Affect Recognition for Computer-Assisted Intervention of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Liu, C.; Conn, K.; Sarka, N.; Stone, W. , International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, Volume 66, Issue 9, p.662-677, (2008) Layperson Summary
Asperger’s Syndrome: From Hiding to Thriving Weber, K. , The Nurse Practitioner, Volume 33, Issue 7, p.15-21, (2008) Layperson Summary
Enhancing Social and Transition Behaviors of Persons with Autism through Activity Schedules: A Review Banda, D.; Grimmet, E. , Education and Training in Developmental Disabilities, Volume 43, Issue 3, p.324-333, (2008) Layperson Summary
Recent Advances in Autism Spectrum Disorders Charles, J.; Carpenter, L.; Jenner, W.; Nicholas, J. , International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, Volume 38, Issue 2, p.133-140, (2008) Layperson Summary
Guanfacine in Children with Autism and/or Intellectual Disabilities Haden, B.; Sahl, R.; Hardan, A. , Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, Volume 29, Issue 4, p.303-308, (2008) Layperson Summary
A Review of Recent Reports on Autism: 1000 Studies Published in 2007 Hughes, J. , Epilepsy & Behavior, Volume 13, Issue 3, p.425-437, (2008) Layperson Summary
Novel Therapeutic Targets for Autism Theoharides, T.; Doyle, R.; Francis, K.; Conti, P.; Kalogeromitros, D. , Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, Volume 29, Issue 8, p.375-382, (2008) Layperson Summary
Treatment of Hypersexual Behavior with Oral Estrogen in Autistic Male Jones, M.; Okere, K. , Southern Medical Journal, Volume 101, Issue 9, p.959-960, (2008) Layperson Summary
A Picture is Worth: Video Self-Modeling Applications at School and Home Buggey, T. , Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, Volume 9, Issue 3, p.151-158, (2007) Layperson Summary
Absence of Urinary Opioid Peptides in Children with Autism Cass, H.; Gringras, P.; March, J.; McKendrick, I.; OHare, A.; Owen, L.; Pollin, C. , Arch Dis Child, Volume 93, Issue 9, p.745-750, (2008) Layperson Summary
Group Intensive Family Training (GIFT) for Preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorders Anan, R.; Warner, L.; McGillivary, J.; Chong, A.; Hines, S. , Behavioral Interventions, Volume 23, Issue 3, p.165-180, (2008) Layperson Summary
Psychiatric Hospitalization among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Mandell, D. , J Autism Dev Disord, Volume 38, Issue 6, p.1059-1065, (2008) Layperson Summary
Art Therapy Applied to an Adolescent with Asperger’s Syndrome ElkisAbuhoff, D. , The Arts in Psychotherapy, Volume 35, Issue 4, p.262-270, (2008) Layperson Summary
Childhood Autism, Feeding Problems and Failure to Thrive in Early Infancy: Seven Case Studies Keen, D. , Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry, Volume 17, Issue 4, p.209-216, (2008) Layperson Summary
Brief Report: Enhanced Picture Naming in Autism Walenski, M.; Mostofsky, S.; GidleyLarson, J.; Ullman, M. , J Autism Dev Disord, Volume 38, p.1395-1399, (2008) Layperson Summary
Understanding and Treating Autistic Behaviors – Part 1: Nonpharmacologic Therapy Slavik, S.; Popovich, N. , U.S. Pharmacist, Volume 32, Issue 11, p.34-43, (2007) Layperson Summary
Olanzapine in the Treatment of Behavioral Problems Associated with Autism: An Open-Label Trial in Kuwait Fido, A.; AlSaad, S. , Medical Principles and Practices, Volume 17, Issue 5, p.415-418, (2008) Layperson Summary
Metabolic Effects of Atypical Antipsychotics Tahir, R. , US Pharm, Volume 32, Issue 11, p.HS3-HS14, (2007) Layperson Summary
The Impact of Social Scripts and Visual Cues on Verbal Communication in Three Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Ganz, J.; Kaylor, M.; Bourgeois, B.; Hadden, K. , Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, Volume 23, Issue 2, p.79-94, (2008) Layperson Summary
Comparison of PECS and the Use of VOCA: A Replication Beck, A.; Stoner, J.; Bock, S.; Parton, T. , Education and Training in Developmental Disabilities, Volume 43, Issue 2, p.198-216, (2008) Layperson Summary
Online Video Game Therapy for Mental Health Concerns: A Review Wilkinson, N.; Ang, R.; Goh, D. , International Journal of Psychiatry, Volume 54, Issue 4, p.370-382, (2008) Layperson Summary
Social Skills Group Therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorders Ruble, L.; Willis, H.; Crabtree, V. , Clinical Case Studies, Volume 7, Issue 4, p.287-300, (2008) Layperson Summary
Cognitive, Behavior and Intervention Outcome in Young Children with Autism Itzchak, E.; Lahat, E.; Burgin, R.; Zachor, A. , Research in Developmental Disabilities, Volume 29, Issue 5, p.446-458, (2008) Layperson Summary
The Vasopressin System – From Antidiuresis to Psychopathology Frank, E.; Landgraf, R. , European Journal of Pharmacology, Volume 583, p.226-242, (2008) Layperson Summary
Generalization of a Pictorial Alternative Communication System across Instructors and Distance Ganz, J.; Sigafoos, J.; Simpson, R.; Cook, K. , Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Volume 24, Issue 2, p.89-99, (2008) Layperson Summary
Development of the Evaluative Method for Evaluating and Determining Evidence-Based Practices in Autism Reichow, B.; Volkmar, F.; Cicchetti, D. , J Autism Dev Disord, Volume 38, Issue 7, p.1311-1319, (2008) Layperson Summary
Effects of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Intervention on Speech Production in Children with Autism: A Systematic Review Schlosser, R.; Wendt, O. , American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, Volume 17, Issue 3, p.212-230, (2008) Layperson Summary
Neuropeptides and Social Behavior: Effects of Oxytocin and Vasopressin in Humans Heinrichs, M.; Domes, G. , Progress in Brain Research, Volume 170, p.337-350, (2008) Layperson Summary
Sleep Problems in Children with Neurological Disorders Dorris, L.; Scott, N.; Zuberi, S.; Gibson, N. , Developmental Neurorehabilitation, Volume 11, Issue 2, p.95-114, (2008) Layperson Summary
Impact of Prosocial Neuropeptides on Human Brain Function MeyerLindenberg, A. , Progress in Brain Research, Volume 170, p.463-470, (2008) Layperson Summary
Vagal Activity, Early Growth, and Emotional Development Field, T.; Diego, M. , Infant Behavior & Development, Volume 31, Issue 3, p.361-373, (2008) Layperson Summary
What is a Psychosis and Where is it Located? Saugstad, L. , Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci, Volume 258, Issue Suppl 2, p.111-117, (2008) Layperson Summary
Use of Clonidine in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Ming, X.; Gorden, E.; Kang, N.; Wagner, G. , Brain & Development, Volume 30, Issue 7, p.454-460, (2008) Layperson Summary
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