Physical & Cognitive Development in Middle Childhood

test 2

autism

• neurodevelopmental disorder that affects an individual’s ability to communicate and connect socially with other people

• spectrum disorder

• no definitive test, only a symptom checklist

• likely genetic

diagnostic substitution

people used to be diagnosed with something else and are now being diagnosed with autism

causes of increasing rates of autism diagnosis

more kids have autism, widening autism criteria, diagnostic substitution, more screenings

autism symptoms

• not a lot of imaginary play

• pay less attention to caregivers talking, so being in language development

• delayed theory of mind

patterns of autism diagnosis

• people are continuing being diagnosed into adulthood now

• kids are getting diagnosis

• peak in diagnosis when American Association of Pediatrics suggested routine screenings in 2007

vaccines and autism

• lots of large, well-done studies show no link

• one study reported a link between autism and MMR vaccine but was fabricated and retracted

• new study saw vaccinated children had a 2.5 higher rate of all developmental disorders except autism, but not well done and unpublished

Tylenol and autism

• randomized experiments are not ethical

• correlation with Tylenol and autism is comparatively very weak compared to smoking

• dose effects: there is a correlation if kids are given a ton of Tylenol

• fevers during pregnancy are worse for the baby’s brain development, so Tylenol should/could help prevent fevers

• family effects: over multiple pregnancies, dose effect disappears and increased rate of autism disappears

learning differences