http://www.wellspring.com/blog Wellspring Blog Mon, 24 Oct 2011 16:16:21 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en For many families the end of summer can be filled with worries of how their child will deal with returning to school, particularly for children with autism and other special needs. After a few months of a new summer routine, or a lack of a consistent routine, and for many ... http://www.wellspring.com/blog/index.php/dealing-with-autism/preparing-your-child-with-autism-for-school.php Punishment is widely used in our society. Punishment can be seen in imprisonment, late fees, speeding tickets, and detention all for not following socially acceptable rules. By definition, punishment is anything that follows a behavior that leads to the decrease of that behavior in the future. This may include adding ... http://www.wellspring.com/blog/index.php/autism-treatment/to-punish-or-not-to-punish.php There were several significant stories over the past few months regarding new research related to autism. While the research findings might not have any immediate benefit to people with autism, the new knowledge could further the cause of understanding autism and might in the future lead to meaningful benefits to affected people and families. Here are ... http://www.wellspring.com/blog/index.php/autism-research/autism-related-research.php Studies have revealed that many parents report or observe initial concerns with their child’s development prior to the age of 3 (Chawarska, et al, 2007), with about a third of parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) reporting having noticed problems before their child’s first birthday and 80% before ... http://www.wellspring.com/blog/index.php/symptoms-of-autism/early-detection-of-autism-spectrum-disorders.php Not only is it important to understand the specific behaviors and/or symptoms associated with autism, or Autistic Disorder, it is equally as important for parents and professionals to understand how autism is diagnosed, when it can be diagnosed, and some of the finer points of the diagnosis. Below are 6 ... http://www.wellspring.com/blog/index.php/autism-treatment/diagnosis-of-autism.php The global awareness of Autism has grown significantly during the last decade and continues to do so. April is Autism Awareness month and there are numerous events in the US and around the world to promote this behavioral disorder. Autism Speaks provides tremendous leadership in this area and their efforts are commendable. Wellspring too ... http://www.wellspring.com/blog/index.php/autism-awareness/autism-awareness.php Behavior Analysts across the nation are governed by a certification board, the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB). Unlike a licensing board, certification is generally voluntary on the part of the practitioner and is overseen and directed by the profession itself. The BACB itself is overseen by an elected board of ... http://www.wellspring.com/blog/index.php/autism-treatment/the-relevance-of-licensure-versus-certification-of-behavior-analysts-as-california-seeks-to-be-a-mandated-state-for-autism-services.php Studies out of the University of Cambridge, particularly from Simon Baron-Cohen have indicated that one androgen, fetal testosterone, is a key factor underlying social development, and that impairments in the production of this hormone may play a role in autism. Androgens are essentially chemical compounds in the male body that stimulate ... http://www.wellspring.com/blog/index.php/autism-research/the-androgen-theory-of-autism.php The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) is the manual written by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) used by mental health professionals to diagnose mental illness as it details the current criteria that must be met in order for a diagnosis to be ethically given to an individual’s condition. Criteria generally ... http://www.wellspring.com/blog/index.php/autism-research/separate-disorders-or-a-spectrum-disorder.php Many parents continue to ask “why?” when trying to understand their child’s diagnosis of autism. We have moved far from groundless accusations of “refrigerator mothers” or diagnoses of childhood schizophrenia as new studies have moved past these speculations and have linked autism to environmental and genetic factors. Since 2002, the ... http://www.wellspring.com/blog/index.php/causes-of-autism/new-research-in-the-cause-of-autism-children%e2%80%99s-hospital-los-angeles-links-freeway-air-pollution-to-autism.php