Skip to main content

Spectrum: Autism Research News

Opinion /

Viewpoint

Expert opinions on trends and controversies in autism research.

A preschool-age child plays with a vertical sensory board to which colorful moving objects are attached.

Common sensory response scores may miss important variations

by ,  /  22 February 2024

A person’s “overall” score on sensory-seeking, hyperreactive or hyporeactive tendencies may obscure nuances in their individual sensory experience.

Previous articles
January 2024
An illustration of a magnifying glass, checklists, and anonymous figures.

‘Prototypical autism’ research is likely a dead end

by , ,  /  25 January 2024

Efforts to define “frank” or “classic” forms of the condition build on several assumptions that the science has not yet borne out.

Comments
October 2023
A person stands in front of a neatly organized dresser drawer

Teasing apart insistence on sameness with Mirko Uljarević

by  /  30 October 2023

The hallmark autism trait has multiple facets, Uljarević and his colleagues have found.

Comments
An abstract illustration of a path surrounded by wavy shapes

Building bridges: Collaboration across the autism community

by ,  /  24 October 2023

An autistic person and the mother of an autistic child explore partnership in the autism community.

Comments
A group of elementary school children run toward the entrance of a school, their backs turned to the camera.

Journal club: Why do some children lose their autism diagnosis?

by  /  9 October 2023

More than one-third of a cohort of autistic toddlers no longer meet criteria for the condition at school age, according to a new study, but the findings may not generalize because the cohort is predominantly white and affluent.

Comments
May 2023
Three people stand on a staircase and contemplate a maze-like array of paths in the sky before them.

What kind of autism research should we do, and where should we do it?

by  /  3 May 2023

Researchers at INSAR 2023 need to discuss these questions and remember that the purpose of research may be different for different communities.

Comments
April 2023
Photograph of a woman in a dim room looking out her window.

Weaponized heterogeneity only harms the most vulnerable autistic people

by  /  17 April 2023

Focusing on aspects of autistic experience that we all share may lead more quickly to our shared goal of improved outcomes for all autistic people.

Comments
A row of magazines against the wall with many adhesive notes stuck between their pages.

Journal club: Does lithium in drinking water contribute to autism?

by  /  11 April 2023

A study published in JAMA Pediatrics suggests that autism is more common among people born in areas with high levels of lithium in drinking water, but it is too soon to say whether prenatal lithium exposure is truly a concern.

Comments
March 2023
Computer-generated image of mountains against a black background.

Detecting a signal amid noise in autism early-intervention research

by , ,  /  28 March 2023

Studies of behavioral treatments for autism are complex and can easily be misunderstood. Here we provide some guidance.

Comments
Three groups of people meet and mix at a crossroads.

Letter to the editor: Researchers must bridge disconnect at ‘autism crossroads’

Two groups of researchers respond to Spectrum’s article about the power struggle among researchers, self-advocates and families, calling on their autistic and non-autistic colleagues to work collaboratively and promote equity in autism research.

Comments
Photograph of a doctor taking notes on a toddler who is playing with their mother.

Journal Club: Meta-analysis oversells popular autism screen

by  /  14 March 2023

The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) accurately flags autistic toddlers, a new systematic review and meta-analysis suggests, contrary to past evidence that the tool’s validity varies depending on a child’s age and traits. Experts weigh in on the discrepancy.

Comments

Browse Articles by Topic

Click on the arrows or swipe to view topics.
  • Genes

    Genes

  • The Brain

    The Brain

  • Diagnosis

    Diagnosis

  • Signs and Symptoms

    Signs & Symptoms

  • Treatments

    Treatments

  • Environment

    Environment

  • Science and Society

    Science & Society