More evidence needed to support use of autism interventions

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Public release date: 1-Nov-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Warren Robak robak@rand.org 310-451-6913 RAND Corporation

Interventions designed to improve core deficits in children with autism spectrum disorders are supported by varying levels of evidence, highlighting the need for well-designed studies to better evaluate the interventions, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

Researchers found that when they evaluated the past research on a wide variety of interventions aimed at improving core deficits in social/communication, language, behavior and adaptive skills, the evidence of efficacy ranged from moderate to insufficient. The findings are published in the November edition of the journal Pediatrics.

"We reviewed the evidence that exists for widely used interventions for autism and found there was no more than moderate evidence demonstrating the benefits of any of the approaches," said Margaret Maglione, the study's lead author and a policy analyst at RAND, a nonprofit research organization. "What's needed are new, well-designed studies that are large enough to tease out the effects of different components and which types of children are best suited for the interventions."

The study concludes that head-to-head trials of competing autism treatments are needed to identify which programs are superior and additional work should follow study participants long-term to further examine the effectiveness of treatments.

Researchers conducted the project by closely examining information from more than 100 studies that contained at least 10 children or adolescents. The information was reviewed by an expert panel of practitioners, researchers and parents assembled to systematically evaluate the level of evidence for a wide array of behavioral autism treatments and develop priorities for future research.

The expert panel agreed there was enough evidence to endorse the use of applied behavioral analysis, integrated behavioral/developmental programs, the Picture Exchange Communication System and various social skills interventions for Asperger's syndrome and high-functioning autism. In addition, they agreed that children with autism spectrum disorders should have access to at least 25 hours per week of comprehensive interventions (often called "intensive early intervention") to address social communication, language, play skills and maladaptive behavior.

No treatment was supported by evidence considered stronger than "moderate." Treatments in this category are supported by reasonable evidence, but include the caveat that further research may change the confidence about the results. In contrast, a treatment supported by a high level of evidence is unlikely to be changed by further research.

Based on the gaps in the evidence, the panel recommends that future research focus on assessment and monitoring of treatment outcomes, address the needs of preverbal and nonverbal children, and identify the most effective strategies, doses and duration of therapy needed to improve core deficits. Importantly, little research on adolescents and young adults was identified, other than for social skills programs for Asperger's or high-functioning autism. Thus, the panel recommends that adolescents and young adults be a priority population.

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More evidence needed to support use of autism interventions

The Gut Brain Connection and Autism

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BOTHWELL, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Oct 30, 2012) - October is Autism Awareness Month and Autism Canada has raised the bar in their commitment to advance science into potential underlying factors contributing to the disorder.

Last August, Autism Canada co-hosted a Scientific Symposium, with the Autism Research Institute, in Toronto. The purpose of the symposium was to examine the growing evidence for the association between the gut microbial community and the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder.Delegates from across Canada, the United States and Scandinavia, including Dr. Tore Midtvedt, came together to listen to four key presentations and discuss next steps.

Autism Canada is proud to announce the release of these four key presentations to the public. They are now available on their website http://www.autismcanada.org.

Featured leading researchers include:

"We are encouraged by recent studies examining the gut brain connection and will continue to support this research," says Autism Canada Chair, Don Blane.

With autism now believed to be affecting 1 in 88 children in Canada, there is a real urgency to fund research into the potential underlying causes and more effective treatments.

Autism Canada''s belief is autism is a whole body disorder, not just a brain disorder.Recognition of this notion addresses many factors not yet thoroughly explored through other philosophies and could not only provide better outcomes, but also hope through better understanding and support.

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The Gut Brain Connection and Autism

Autism: leading the way

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With an Autism Centre of Excellence at nearby Western University and Ontarios shortest waiting list for services, London has become a significant hub in the field of autism, says John LaPorta, chief executive at Thames Valley Childrens Centre, which provides a wide range of autism services. Free Press reporter Kelly Pedro looks at the programs the centre offers, the importance of a short waiting list and how the centre uses technology in its autism programs.

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What is autism?

A brain disorder that typically affects someones ability to communicate, form relationships with others and respond appropriately to their environment. A life-long development disorder, autism affects a persons ability to understand what they see, hear, see, touch and taste. The range and intensity of the disorder varies. People with autism have to work to learn normal patterns of speech and communication and how to relate to people, objects and events. Its often diagnosed when children are young and affects boys more often than girls. Autism is one of the most common developmental disabilities affecting Canadians and is more common than Down Syndrome or cystic fibrosis. There is no known cause or cure.

Source: Autism Ontario

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The programs

A glance at autism programs offered through Thames Valley Childrens Centre:

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History

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Autism: leading the way

Computer Vision System Helps Diagnose Autism in Infants

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A computer vision system that automatically tracks body movement in infants is helping to diagnose neurodevelopmental disorders like autism, say researchers.

Diagnosing autism in children is an important task. Various studies show that early intervention can significantly improve the outcome for children in later life.

The idea is to teach autistic children important social skills and behavioural patterns before other patterns become ingrained. And to be most effective, that needs to be done as early as possible, at say 2 or 3 years old.

And yet the average age for diagnosis in the USis 5.That's largely because the process of diagnosis in young children is particularly difficult and taxing. It requires a psychologist with specialist expertise in autism who analyses a child's behaviour in a one-on-one setting over a significant period of time.

Video plays an increasingly important role in this process but again it requires detailed frame-by-frame analysis by an expert. That's why this kind of diagnosisis time consuming and expensive.

That looks set to change. Today,Jordan Hashemi at theUniversity of Minnesota and a few pals say they've developed a computer vision technique to automatically identify behaviour that shows an increased risk of autism.

The system relies on video footage of the child in an ordinary setting and automatically works out the position of the child's head and how it changes during activities, as well as the position of the arms, torso and legs for analysis of body position and gait.

Autism is generally associated with impaired social interaction and impaired communication. This is most easily diagnosed in children beyond the age of 5 when the differences with their peers become most apparent.

But in recent years, child psychologists have found various other indicators they can use to spot toddlers and infants with a higher risk of autism.

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Computer Vision System Helps Diagnose Autism in Infants

Autism intervention "normalizes" kids' brain function in study

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An early intervention therapy for children with autism has been shown in a study to show unprecedented benefits in the brains of young children who have an autism spectrum disorder.

The study found the therapy, called the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), not only boosted the cognition, language and social skills among very young children with autism but the researchers say it's the first study to show the intervention also "normalized" their brain activity.

"This may be the first demonstration that a behavioral intervention for autism is associated with changes in brain function as well as positive changes in behavior," Dr. Tom Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health, said in a press release.

About one in 88 children have an autism spectrum disorder, according to federal estimates. The disorders begin before age 3 and are characterized by persistent deficits in everyday social, communication and behavioral functioning.

With autism rates on rise, can early detection be stepped up? Here are 10 signs parents should check for in their infants

Some children may show hints of future problems within the first few months of life, while others may seem to develop normally until around 18 to 24 months of age and then stop gaining new skills or lose the skills they once had. Others may not show symptoms at all until 24 months of age.

The study was led by Dr. Geraldine Dawson, a professor of psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Chief Science Officer of the advocacy organization, Autism Speaks. Researchers recruited a 48-participant study pool with children diagnosed with autism and typically-developing children who were between 18 and 30-months of age. There were three times more boys in the study; autism is almost five times more common among boys than girls.

About half the kids were assigned to receive ESDM for a two-year period while the other half were assigned to various community-based interventions in addition to other referrals, evaluations and reading materials. ESDM applies techniques of Applied Behavioral Analysis and other play-based, relationship-based teaching methods in 20 hours of weekly sessions.

After two years of interventions, the researchers measured the children's brain activity with EEG scans while they viewed pictures of faces -- to represent social cues -- and toys, to represent non-social cues. Earlier research shows children with autism have more brain activity viewing non-social cues, than faces -- the opposite effect of typically-developing children.

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Autism intervention "normalizes" kids' brain function in study

Early Autism Treatment Benefits Kids' Brains

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By Daniel J. DeNoon WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD

Oct. 29, 2012 -- Early, intensive autism treatment improves children's brain development, a new study shows.

The treatment, dubbed Early Start Denver Model or ESDM, offers a child 20 hours a week of one-on-one treatment with a trained therapist. It also calls for many more hours of the treatment, in the form of structured play, with a parent trained in the technique.

By age 4, children given the treatment had higher IQ scores, more adaptive behavior, better coordination, and a less severe autism diagnosis than kids given the standard autism treatments offered in their communities. But that's not all, researchers Geraldine Dawson, PhD, and colleagues report.

"We jump-started and improved the responses of children's brains to social information," says Dawson, professor of psychiatry at the University of North Carolina and chief science officer at Autism Speaks.

Normal child development depends on interactions with parents and other people. Without such interactions, language and social skills do not develop.

As measured by an electroencephalogram (EEG), small children's brains show a specific pattern of activity when they look at a picture of a human face. This doesn't happen when they look at pictures of inanimate objects.

Just the reverse happens in children with autism. Their brains light up when they look at pictures of objects, but not when they look at faces. This changed dramatically in the children treated with ESDM.

"The [brains of] children who received the ESDM looked virtually identical to typical 4-year-olds," Dawson says. "The children that received the interventions normal in their communities continued to show the reversed pattern."

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Early Autism Treatment Benefits Kids' Brains

Drugs Hint At Potential Reversal Of Autism

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MedicalRF.com/Corbis

A mutation, called Fragile X, on the X chromosome can cause retardation and autism. Seen here, a microscopic visualization of X chromosomes.

Roger Diehl, a college freshman with Asperger's and depression, and his mother, Sita Diehl, answer questions about what parents and education specialists can do to help kids with learning disabilities or mental illness make a strong transition to college.

Read the Q&A

Scientific researchers can spend years in the lab on obscure topics, like how a sea slug remembers or how a fruit fly sees color. But every now and then, a basic scientist makes a discovery that changes human lives.

Mark Bear, who directs the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT, is one of those basic scientists. He's discovered a system in the brain that could change the lives of thousands of people with the genetic disorder known as Fragile X Syndrome.

Fragile X is a mutation on the X chromosome that can cause mental retardation and autism. Until now, there has been no treatment.

But Bear discovered that the mutation responsible for Fragile X appears to disrupt a system in the brain that regulates synapses the connections between brain cells. He says the system works a bit like a car.

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Drugs Hint At Potential Reversal Of Autism

Adding up autism risks

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Public release date: 14-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Dr Hilary Glover hilary.glover@biomedcentral.com 44-020-319-22370 BioMed Central

The causes of autism and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are complex, and contain elements of both nature (genes) and the environment. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Molecular Autism shows that common genetic polymorphisms (genetic variation) can add up to an increased risk of ASD.

The contribution of inheritance and genetic mutation versus environmental factors to the risk of ASD is hotly debated. Most twin studies show the contribution heavily tilted toward inheritance, but the exact amount of involvement of genes in ASD risk is less apparent. This is because, while the impact of rare genetic variations on ASD risk is becoming clear, the role of more common variations, so called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), remains unresolved.

In a vast project involving researchers across the USA, genetic data from families in the Simons Simplex Collection (where one child, but neither parent or any brothers or sisters, have ASD) and the Autism Genome Project (where one or more children were affected), was compared to families from the HealthABC program a cross section of the population).

By analyzing one million of the common variations in each participant's genome, it became clear that, in families where only one child is affected, 40% of the risk of ASD is inherited. In families where more than one child is affected this increased to over 60%. By looking in more detail at the unaffected parents and siblings of children with ASD it appeared that the inherited risk was additive.

Prof Bernie Devlin, from the University of Pittsburgh, explained, "Each of the common variations involved in ASD has little effect on its own, however our results show that they add up. This could explain why, while the parents might each not show any symptoms, their children receive enough of the risk versions to be affected."

Overall these results suggest that there are a large number of common variants each with a very small effect. Prof Devlin continued, "This is a large step forward in our understanding of ASD. The genetic components alone are far more complex than many imagined a decade ago, including the additive effects we have found, rare inherited mutations, and new mutations arising spontaneously before conception."

Editors-in-Chief, Drs. Buxbaum and Baron-Cohen noted that this study represents "An exceptionally important breakthrough in our understanding of autism risk". They also note that, "The interplay between common SNP and rare risk variants could be key to understanding the considerable differences in presentation seen among individuals with an autism spectrum condition".

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Adding up autism risks

Changing brains of kids with autism

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An intervention program called "Early Start Denver Model" emphasizes play therapy for very young children with autism.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

(CNN) -- As the number of children with autism has risen dramatically over the past couple of decades, experts have learned that the earlier a child gets diagnosed, the earlier specialized therapy can be initiated, which can significantly improve outcomes.

Now researchers have been able to show that a particular type of behavioral therapy called the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) not only improves autism symptoms, but actually normalizes brain activity and improves social behavior.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that starts to become very apparent around age 3. The main signs and symptoms of autism involve communication, social interactions and repetitive behaviors. According to the latest statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 88 children currently is diagnosed with autism, including one in 54 boys.

"Early intervention alters the trajectory of the brain and social development in children with autism," says Geraldine Dawson, the lead study author who developed the ESDM therapy along with study co-author Sally Rogers.

Twins Jacob and Lucas Campbell hooked up to EEGs.

Dawson was a researcher at the University of Washington when she helped devise ESDM; she's now the chief science officer for the advocacy and research group Autism Speaks and a professor at the University of North Carolina. Rogers is a professor and researcher at the University of California Davis MIND Institute.

ESDM therapy uses teaching methods from ABA ,or applied behavioral analysis, the traditional one-on-one interaction between a child and the therapist.

But rather than sitting at a desk next to the child -- where a teacher or therapist breaks down complex tasks into small components and gives tangible reinforcements -- children receiving ESDM are sitting on the floor, playing with their therapist or parents.

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Changing brains of kids with autism

Children with autism can identify misbehavior but have trouble putting it in words

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Public release date: 17-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jyoti Madhusoodanan jmadhusoodanan@plos.org 415-568-4545 x187 Public Library of Science

Children with autism have difficulty identifying inappropriate social behavior, and even when successful, they are often unable to justify why the behavior seemed inappropriate. New brain imaging studies show that children with autism may recognize socially inappropriate behavior, but have difficulty using spoken language to explain why the behavior is considered inappropriate, according to research published Oct. 17 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Elizabeth Carter from Carnegie Mellon University and colleagues.

The authors say the results of their functional MRI studies support previous behavioral studies that reached similar conclusions about language impairment in children with autism. In the current study, the researchers asked children with autism and children with typical development to identify in which of two pictures a boy was being bad (social judgment), or which of two pictures was outdoors (physical judgment). Both groups successfully performed the task, but the children with autism showed activity in fewer brain regions involving social and language networks while performing the task. Even though language was not required for the task, the children with typical development recruited language areas of the brain while making their decisions.

According to the authors, their results support the hypothesis that children with autism may recognize socially inappropriate behavior, but have difficulty using spoken language to explain why the behavior is considered wrong. They suggest that this decreased use of language may also make generalization of the knowledge more difficult.

"These results indicate that it is important to work with these children on translating their knowledge into language", says Carter.

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Citation: Carter EJ, Williams DL, Minshew NJ, Lehman JF (2012) Is He Being Bad? Social and Language Brain Networks during Social Judgment in Children with Autism. PLoS ONE 7(10): e47241. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0047241

Financial Disclosure: This work was supported by a National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Autism Center of Excellence grant (P50HD055748, PI: NJM) and a National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders K23 award (DC006691, PI: DLW). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Competing Interest Statement: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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Children with autism can identify misbehavior but have trouble putting it in words

Impact of autism may be different in men and women

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Public release date: 17-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jyoti Madhusoodanan jmadhusoodanan@plos.org 415-568-4545 x187 Public Library of Science

Men and women with autism spectrum conditions (ASC) may show subtle but significant differences in the cognitive functions impacted by the condition, according to new research published Oct 17 by Meng-Chuan Lai and colleagues from the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge, UK in the open access journal PLOS ONE.

Though individuals with autism show sex-specific differences in serum biomarkers, genetics and brain anatomy, little is known about any sex-dependent differences in cognition caused by ASC. Following their previous report on behavioral sex differences in adults with ASC (also published in PLOS ONE, see (http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0020835 ), in this new study the researchers compared four aspects of cognition in adults with ASC to those with typical development. They found that perception of facial emotions was equally impaired across both sexes in individuals with ASC. In tasks involving attention to detail or dexterity requiring strategic thinking, women with ASC performed comparably to women without ASC, but men with ASC showed more difficulties than neurotypical men.

According to the authors, their results suggest that the severity with which certain cognitive functions are affected by autism may be dependent on sex, and has implications for assessment and intervention of ASC.

"What we know about males with ASC should not be assumed to generalize to females", said Dr. Lai. "Their similarities and differences need to be investigated systematically in autism research."

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Citation: Lai M-C, Lombardo MV, Ruigrok ANV, Chakrabarti B, Wheelwright SJ, et al. (2012) Cognition in Males and Females with Autism: Similarities and Differences. PLoS ONE 7(10): e47198. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0047198

Financial Disclosure: The project was funded by the United Kingdom Medical Research Council (GO 400061, http://www.mrc.ac.uk/index.htm). MCL was supported by the Waterloo Foundation during the period of this study (921/1247, http://www.waterloofoundation.org.uk/index.html), MVL was supported by the Wellcome Trust and the British Academy, and SBC was supported by the Wellcome Trust. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Competing Interest Statement: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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Impact of autism may be different in men and women

Early therapy can change brains of kids with autism

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An intervention program called "Early Start Denver Model" emphasizes play therapy for very young children with autism.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

(CNN) -- As the number of children with autism has risen dramatically over the past couple of decades, experts have learned that the earlier a child gets diagnosed, the earlier specialized therapy can be initiated, which can significantly improve outcomes.

Now researchers have been able to show that a particular type of behavioral therapy called the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) not only improves autism symptoms, but actually normalizes brain activity and improves social behavior.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that starts to become very apparent around age 3. The main signs and symptoms of autism involve communication, social interactions and repetitive behaviors. According to the latest statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 88 children currently is diagnosed with autism, including one in 54 boys.

"Early intervention alters the trajectory of the brain and social development in children with autism," says Geraldine Dawson, the lead study author who developed the ESDM therapy along with study co-author Sally Rogers.

Twins Jacob and Lucas Campbell hooked up to EEGs.

Dawson was a researcher at the University of Washington when she helped devise ESDM; she's now the chief science officer for the advocacy and research group Autism Speaks and a professor at the University of North Carolina. Rogers is a professor and researcher at the University of California Davis MIND Institute.

ESDM therapy uses teaching methods from ABA ,or applied behavioral analysis, the traditional one-on-one interaction between a child and the therapist.

But rather than sitting at a desk next to the child -- where a teacher or therapist breaks down complex tasks into small components and gives tangible reinforcements -- children receiving ESDM are sitting on the floor, playing with their therapist or parents.

The rest is here:
Early therapy can change brains of kids with autism

Facility Offers One-Stop Shopping for Families of Kids with Autism

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In the three years since Ramona Marshall's son was diagnosed with autism, the Southern California woman has seen the inside of a lot of school conference rooms, doctors' offices and therapists' rooms. But she thinks she may have found a single place where her son, now age five, can receive much of the care and attention he needs.

At the Kids Institute for Development & Advancement in Irvine, Calif., Marshall can relax and chat with other parents of kids with autism while her son receives a range of services to help him overcome speech and social deficits. Or she can work out in a gym in the facility designed to give parents a healthy way to alleviate some stress. Or she can consult with one of the therapists on staff.

The facility, one of the first in the country attempting to combine a wide range of autism services in one location, has made life a little easier for the Marshall family.

MORE: After Her Daughter's Autism Diagnosis, Impassioned Mom Creates a Special Needs School

"I think we need places like this all over," Marshall says one afternoon while waiting for her son to finish a session with a therapist. "Families of kids with autism do enough driving as it is. This center is exciting for the kids; it's play-based, safe and clean. And for parents, it's like a support system."

Convenience for families and advancement for kids are the objectives at KiDA.Today one in every 88 kids has autism, and autism diagnosis rates gave risen more tahn 78 percent over the last decade, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The need for convenient, efficient and effective autism services has never been greater. But often that care is fragmented.

Earlier this year, KiDA opened a new 50,000-square-foot facility that offers multidisciplinary, comprehensive autism services under one roof. Kids can go to school, receive a range of one-on-one services, play in a gym, socialize and even see a neurologist -- sometimes all in one day. About 100 families are currently involved with the center.

"For a lot of families with kids on the autism spectrum, they have to drive around for medical appointments, therapies, education, family support," Kristen Coates,manager of administration at KiDA, told TakePart. "It's a lot of stress on the child and the family. It takes a toll. The founders wanted to see a place where everything came together under one roof now. They wanted to see a more integrated system that would really provide comprehensive services."

MORE: Temple Grandin: Autism Is Not My Identity

KiDA didn't begin with such a grand scheme, however. It was started in 2008 by a family with a child with autism who wanted a place for kids with the disorder to gather. In a 5,000-square-foot facility, a few families met to socialize and allow children with autism to play in a specially designed gym. Soon after, the group arranged to offer speech therapy on site.

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Facility Offers One-Stop Shopping for Families of Kids with Autism

Autism redefined as Asperger's diagnosis disappears

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Early next year, a new definition of autism will be used by scientists in order to more precisely diagnose kids with the brain disorder.

The diagnosis of Aspergers syndrome, considered a higher functioning form of autism, will disappear once the new criteria for identifying the disorder come out in May 2013, according to Dr. Catherine Lord, director of the Center for Autism and the Developing Brain a collaborative program between New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College and Columbia University, in partnership with the New York Center for Autism.

The proposed changes on how doctors define and diagnose autism were the subject of a research study conducted by Lord and published in the latest issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.

As a scientific medical diagnosis, Aspergers is merged into autism spectrum disorder, said Lord. Our committee felt there just wasnt any way to justify its continuance.

Lord is part of the American Psychiatric Associations working group responsible for updating the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a guide used by physicians around the world. Improved diagnosis leads to better treatment.

There was so much confusion of who had Aspergers and who didnt. We were also concerned that there were kids being denied services because Aspergers sounds like a better diagnosis, she said.

Autism rates are staggering in North America. A debate is currently raging among physicians as to whether or not the rates are actually increasing or if experts have just recently recognized that many social and developmental syndromes are linked.

One in 88 children is believed to have the neurological disorder. Autistic kids can display a range of symptoms from repetitive or aggressive behaviour to a complete lack of social skills and an inability to speak, communicate or make eye contact with others.

Clinicians are scrambling to better define autism in an effort to quickly identify children and get them into interactive, behavioural treatment. There is no cure for autism and the burden on families can be immense as many autistic people cannot live on their own.

Nearly 70 years ago, Austrian pediatrician Hans Asperger was the first to notice in his practice intellectual children with social problems who were somewhat obsessed with specific topics or subjects. These children often avoided eye contact and were clumsy.

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Autism redefined as Asperger's diagnosis disappears

Tour Report: Els blog: Autism challenge on tap

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Ernie Els turns 43 on Wednesday and hosts the Els for Autism Golf Challenge this weekend. Little/Getty Images Ernie Els turns 43 on Wednesday and hosts the Els for Autism Golf Challenge this weekend.

Editors note: Ernie Els is writing a blog for PGATOUR.COM in 2012 and this is his most recent installment. For more information on the World Golf Hall of Famer, visit http://www.ernieels.com.

It was great to be back at CordeValle Golf Club for last weeks Frys.com Open. This was only the second time Id played this tournament, but before then Id done some corporate outings here for my sponsor SAP. Its just a wonderful place to play golf and its great being able to stay on the property during tournament week. Obviously I wanted to play well to make it an even nicer experience and, for the most part, I did.

Actually, it was a similar performance to when I played here in 2011. The golf course was playing a little bit firmer than last time, but the pattern of my scoring was much the same. Seven out of my eight rounds in this event have been in the 60s and Im 24-under par combined. Overall I hit a lot of quality shots out there and I could have easily been right in the mix. Both days over the weekend I started on the 10th tee and really got it going on the back nine, making a bunch of birdies, but both times I didnt manage to carry that momentum through the front nine.

That was a bit disappointing, but as I say, I played well and it was an enjoyable week. Its also my best finish since the Open. Right after that amazing week at Lytham it was such a hectic time for me, and although I was trying my best every week I teed it up, there were times when I felt like there wasnt much fuel in the tank. Now, its like things are coming around again. My focus and my energy levels are better and all last week I definitely felt like my swing was in a nice groove. That gives me a lot to look forward to in my next couple of tournaments and obviously for next year as well.

Theres plenty to look forward to this week, too. Its my birthday on Wednesday, so Im guessing as a family well all do something together. Then later in the week Ill be hosting the 2012 Els for Autism Golf Challenge Grand Finale in Las Vegas. Last years inaugural event was a great success and Liezl and I had a really fantastic time with everyone. Im sure its going to be more of the same this time around.

Weve got a great format and there are some amazing prizes up for grabs.

Liezl and I kick things off with a welcome champagne reception and dinner at Caesars Palace on Friday night. Then on Saturday morning the golf action starts at three great courses Rio Secco, Bears Best and TPC Las Vegas. Some of my fellow PGA TOUR pros are kindly hosting a coaching clinic at each venue and thats followed by the Grand Finale tournament itself. Later, its back to Caesars Palace for an awards ceremony and a good old South Africa-style braai. Nice!

Anyway like I said, it should be a lot of fun. Once were done Ill make sure we get some information and a gallery of images on the website. Hopefully it will inspire you to take part in the 2013 Els for Autism Golf Challenge.

Bye for now.

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Tour Report: Els blog: Autism challenge on tap

Controversial autism doctor loses license elsewhere, but can still practice in Missouri, Illinois

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Dr. Mark Geier has opened eight autism treatment clinics called ASD Centers across the country but is only allowed to practice at two of them in St. Peters and Springfield, Ill.

Missouri and Illinois are among the last states to seek discipline against Geier, whose hormone therapy for children with autism has been called dangerous, abusive and exploitive by various medical boards.

In the last two years, his medical license has been revoked or suspended in California, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

Missouri, Illinois and Hawaii have filed complaints against Geier based on other states' actions, but his license remains active in all three states. A disciplinary hearing in Geier's case is set for Oct. 19 before the Missouri Board of Registration for the Healing Arts in Jefferson City.

Geier did not respond to requests for comment.

After Geier and his son, David, ran into trouble in their home state of Maryland, they apparently came to Missouri.

Last year, David Geier, who has a bachelor's degree in biology, was charged with practicing medicine without a license. In their case against him, Maryland authorities said he had diagnosed patients, used ultrasound machines and ordered blood tests.

David Geier now works at the St. Peters clinic in a shopping center on Mexico Road.

"I don't see patients," Geier said when reached at the clinic Wednesday.

A man who answered the phone at the ASD Center in Springfield, Ill., said Dr. Mark Geier does not see patients there but consults with the clinic's director, Dr. Georgia Davis.

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Controversial autism doctor loses license elsewhere, but can still practice in Missouri, Illinois

Small school for kids with autism a ‘lifesaver’

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Kenny Jakeman is not a fan of corn. Or carrots.

But the 11-year-old agreed to give both a try at his schools annual Thanksgiving lunch Thursday, as practice for his family dinner this weekend.

Jakeman is one of six students at Woodview Learning Centre (WLC) in Aldershot, a small private school for children with autism.

The intimate class size six kids and three teachers allows staff to focus not just on academics, but building social skills and addressing the specific needs and challenges outlined by the students families.

Structure is a big thing for these kids and the unfamiliar, such as trying new foods, can be overwhelming.

We are very much mimicking a real school, said program coordinator Lindsey Court.

But here they can play outside without so many other kids around to cause them anxiety. They play with each other were really such a close community with the kids and their parents.

Autism is a neurobiological disorder that often leads to difficulty with verbal and non-verbal communication and social interaction. Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) occur in about 1 in 200 people in Canada.

Kennys mom, Sue Jakeman says WLC was a lifesaver.

Theyre our family. I know that even when Kennys gone from there, we will always keep in touch (with the school). And with the other families.

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Small school for kids with autism a ‘lifesaver’

Autism: Answers and Understanding

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CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - The numbers are startling. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate in one in 88 children will be diagnosed with Autism by the age of eight. The prevalence rate is even higher for boys where it's one in 54.

"We now have an epidemic of Autism in the United States," said Dr. Geri Dawson, chief science officer for Autism Speaks. " We need to view it as a public health crisis that needs a national strategy."

AWBTV News 3 "On Your Side" special, "Autism: Answers and Understanding" examined many of the key issues facing families who have a child on the Autism spectrum.

"If we intervene early and we work on language and we work on social skills and we work on the developmental skills than the long term prognosis is better," said pediatrician Dr. Joseph Stegman.

It's why an early diagnosis is so important. Pediatricians should be doing Autism screenings at well-baby visits at 18 and 24 months. Doctors are looking for basic milestones likesmiling, interaction, eye-contact and verbal skills.

Amanda Childress has ason Lawson whowas diagnosed two years ago.

"You would see those kids in the grocery store that would be hanging out of the cart and you would say gosh that mom can't get those kids under control," said Childress. "Now, I'm that mom and it's like but, there's a reason why."

While there is so much we don't yet know about Autism and its causes, real progress is being made. A lot of groundbreaking research is being done here in the Carolinas.

"These findings have been accelerating at a rapid pace," said Dr. Mark Zylka who is a researcher at UNC-Chapel Hill."I really do think a lot of it has to do with the increased funding and increased awareness."

Autism Speaks has funded more than $170 million in scientific research. Most of the money comes from fundraising walks held across the county. The Carolinas Walk Now for Autism Speaks will be October 27th at zMax Dragway in Concord.Learn more about creating a team, joining one or making a donation by clicking here.

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Autism: Answers and Understanding

Clinton Center hosts 2012 Walk Now for Autism Speaks

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LITTLE ROCK (Oct. 6, 2012) - Every 11 minutes, another family receives the devastating news that their child has an autism spectrum disorder.

The third annual Arkansas Walk Now for Autism Speaksseeks to raise more than $105,000 for autism research and advocacy work. The event is today, October 6, at the Clinton Presidental Center.

"We continue to be pleasantly surprised and grateful to fellow Arkansans for the outstanding community support this event receives," said Dawn Itzkowitz, Autism Speaks co-chairwoman. "Not only is the walk a fundraiser to benefit the national Autism Speaks organization, the walk funds local grants to autism providers and introduces Arkansas families to each other and to resources in their area. We hope to see walkers from across the state at this event."

Searcy native Joe Aaron, perhaps best known as the co-creator of the Disney animated series Doug, joins the walk as a special guest. Aaron is an autism awareness advocate and is raising funds to film Guttersnipes, a feature film addressing autism, homelessness and race relations, in Arkansas. THV's own Ed Buckner and Craig O'Neill will serve as event emcees.

On-site, day-of registration begins at 8:30 a.m. The walk begins at 10 a.m.

The 2011 walk raised more than $99,000 for Autism Speaks and had more than 1,700 participants. This year's goal is to raise $105,000 from 1,800 participants and 140 teams.

The money raised funds autism research and advocacy work. Learn more at WalkNowforAutismSpeaks.org.

Autism Speak's goal is to change the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders. They are dedicated to funding globalbiomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism; to raising public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society; and to bringing hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder.

(Source: Walk Now for Autism Speaks)

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Clinton Center hosts 2012 Walk Now for Autism Speaks

"Autism Speaks U" advocacy group establishes on campus

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Bobby Pendry, sophomore neuroscience major, and Megan Pruitt, senior psychology major and child development minor, combined their efforts with Naomi Ekas, assistant psychology professor, to bring "Autism Speaks U" to campus, making the university the third college in Texas to host the national organization.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which encompasses autism, Aspergers and other mental disorders, are disorders that affect brain development, according to the official website. When referring to the range of disorders encompassed by ASD, it is called the spectrum.

The university chapter will focus on advocating and creating awareness of the disorder on campus, said Priutt, the president of the university's chapter of "Autism Speaks U". The group will have monthly meetings and fundraisers to create one big event each semester, she said.

Pruitt became interested in autism when she began working as a lab assistant for Ekas. She said her interest peaked because she was able to work with younger children with autism.

Pendry, vice president of the chapter,said he wanted to create an autism awareness group, similar to one he started in high school, because his brother is on the autism spectrum. Because the university does not allow more than one of certain kind of group, he decided to join the organization.

Robbins said she wants the group to be the "megaphone" for the metroplex.

Upcoming events:The first "Autism Speaks U" event will be on Oct. 19 at the Hope Center for Autism in Fort Worth. Students will babysit children while their parents have a night to themselves.

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"Autism Speaks U" advocacy group establishes on campus