Many people believe that autism was first introduced to the medical community in 1943. However, more recent discoveries indicate that autism may have been described in medical literature as early as 1925. Since then, research on autism has greatly expanded. Several key figures in the history of autism have contributed to our understanding of the condition today. These historical figures include Dr. Leo Kanner, Dr. Hans Asperger, and Dr. Grunya Sukhareva.
Mercer University School of Medicine is working to make autism diagnosis more accessible to families living in rural Georgia through their Early Autism Detection Program. Through this program, Mercer is using EarliPoint to help identify autism in young children in a timely manner and without requiring their families to drive long distances for testing.
Many autistic people engage in repetitive movements or behaviors known as stimming (short for self-stimulatory behavior). In the past, these behaviors were often viewed as problematic and were discouraged by caregivers, researchers, and healthcare providers. However, autistic self-advocates have helped reshape this perspective by emphasizing that stimming often serves important purposes, such as regulating emotions, managing sensory experiences, and expressing feelings.
Many autistic people have trouble sleeping, feel anxious, find social situations difficult, or are sensitive to sounds, lights, or certain textures. These challenges can be stressful and make everyday life harder. Therapies and healthy lifestyle changes can help many people, but they do not work for everyone or improve every symptom. Because of this, researchers are studying new ways to help autistic people. One treatment that has received growing attention is cannabidiol (CBD).
Most people have experienced heartburn, stomachaches, constipation or diarrhea at some point in their life. These gastrointestinal issues (GI) can be uncomfortable and inconvenient. Autistic people are more likely to have GI issues compared to non-autistic people. Research has shown that up to 91% of autistic people have GI issues. The reason they have more issues can be broken down into 3 categories: issues in the gut, issues in the brain, and diet.
