Articles/Books
Autism Resource: new tool for GPs
Phillipa Clark discusses the latest resource for evaluating suspected autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and how this can be used by GPs. Phillipa is an honorary senior lecturer working in the field of developmental paediatrics and is a member of the Altogether Autism Professional Expert Group. More... or for more information on resources...
New Zealand Autism Spectrum Disorder Guideline - Supplementary Evidence on Applied Behaviour Analysis.
NZ Guidelines Group, May 2010
This supplement to the ASD Guideline was developed with the support of the ASD Living Guideline Group from the systematic review and technical review referred to below. Access the Guideline Supplementary paper.
Presentation at International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR), Philadephia, May 22, 2010
The Gluten Free and Casein Free (GFCF) Diet: A Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Challenge Study. More...
Popular Autism Diet Does Not Demonstrate Behavioral Improvement
University of Rochester Medical Centre Newsroom (May 19, 2010)
Tightly controlled study saw no benefits for sleep, attention and bowel function
A popular belief that specific dietary changes can improve the symptoms of children with autism was not supported by a tightly controlled University of Rochester study, which found that eliminating gluten and casein from the diets of children with autism had no impact on their behavior, sleep or bowel patterns. More...
Lancet Supplement
Pre-School Autism Communication Trial (PACT) Intervention Procedure
Aldred C., Green J., Howlin P., LeCouteur A., Slonims V., Barron S., and PACT therapists
The webappendix formed part of the orignal submission and has been peer reviewed. It is posted as supplied by the authors. Suppliment to: Green J, Charman T, McConachie H et al. Parent-mediated communication-focused treatment in children with autism (PACT): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2010; published online May 21, 2010. DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(10)60587-9. More...
Testing autism interventions: trials and tribulations
In the Lancet (May 21, 2010), Jonathan Green and colleagues report results from a multisite randomised trial in children with autism. The investigators compared a parent-training technique that targeted enhancement of the child's social-communication skills (two of the three core deficits in autism) with treatment as usual. The primary outcome was the social-communication score from the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), a widely used diagnostic tool. Secondary outcomes included parent-child interaction, child language, social communication, and measures of adaptive functioning. More...
Parent-mediated communication-focused treatment in children with autism (PACT): a randomised controlled trial
Johnathan Green, Tony Charman, Helen McConachie, Catherine Aldred, Vicky Slonims, Pat Howlin, Ann Le Couteur, Kathy Leadbitter, Kristelle Hudry, Sarah Byford, Barbara Barrett, Kathryn Temple, Wndy Macdonald, Andrew Pickles, and the PACT Consortium.
Background - Results of small trials suggest that early interventions for social communication are effective for the treatment of autism in children. We therefore investigated the efficacy of such an intervention in a larger trial.
Interpretation - On the basis of our findings, we cannot recommend the addition of the PACT intervention to treatment as usual for the reduction of autism symptoms; however, a clear benefit was noted for parent-child dyadic social communication. More...
The Effectiveness of Applied Behaviour Analysis Interventions for People with Autism Spectrum Disorder
This systematic review considers the evidence for the effectiveness of interventions grounded in the principles of applied behaviour analysis for people with autism spectrum disorder. More...
Technical Review of Published Research on Applied Behaviour Analysis Interventions for People with Autism Spectrum Disorder
‘Technical Review of Published Research on Applied Behaviour Analysis Interventions for People with Autism Spectrum Disorder’ New Zealand Ministries of Education and of Health requested a technical review of the evidence base on the effectiveness of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) for people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). More...
A Spectrum of Light: Inspirational Interviews with Families Affected by Autism
The emotional trauma that families go through when they find out their child has an autism spectrum disorder can feel like being plunged into darkness. Francesca Bierens is here to show that there is also a light at the end of the tunnel. Over a period of fourteen years, Francesca Bierens interviewed ten families of children on the autism spectrum. This book records their answers: how they felt, how they coped, and what gave them strength and solace. Their stories should be read by anyone who is affected by or working with autism. More...
Altorfer Publishing - Books for parents and teachers
Dr Paul G Taylor MB FRCPC (Professional Expert Group for Altogether Autism) is an experienced consultant paediatrician who works directly with many young people with pervasive developmental disorder, their families and their schools. He has written a book about the Pervasive Developmental Disorders with a major focus on PDD-NOS (Not Otherwise Specified).
The book is available at NZ$25.00 including postage and packing within New Zealand.
For all enquiries on how to purchase...
ASNZ (Asperger's Syndrome New Zealand) Sites & Services in NZ
Please find a document listing some of the growing number of groups/sites that offer services specifically for people with Asperger's Syndrome.
Autism at School - A video resource for teachers and parents in New Zealand
For children on the autism spectrum, school can be a frightening, even sickening, place. A child's ability to learn can be greatly affected by anxiety and difficulty understanding teachers and other students. As more children in New Zealand are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the pressure increases on schools and teachers trying to cope. More...
Adults on the Autism Spectrum Leave the Nest
Nancy Perry, 2008, 272 pages, paperback. Provides a guide for parents on how to prepare their children for adulthood, and describes in detail the kinds of services people with ASD need in order to live indepentenly, away from the parental home. More...
Fragile X syndrome: a case of mental retardation by Dr Muhammad Arshad, Hawkes Bay District Hospital, Hastings & Professor Mitchael Fitzgerald, Henry Marsh, Professor of child and adolescent psychiatry, Trinity College, Dublin.
"Our wealth of research strategies and technologies may soon lead to new forms of therapy and medication. someday we may be able to prevent the mental retardation and other symptoms of Fragile X. More...