Many autistic people experience co-occurring conditions that deeply
impact their lives. These conditions vary from person to person, but
may include things like gastrointestinal (GI) problems, sleep
disorders, epilepsy, ADHD and anxiety. These co-occurring conditions
can have major effects on a person's health and well-being, so
it's important to understand how they interact with autism.
In this edition of E-Speaks, you'll learn about dual Down
syndrome-autism spectrum disorder (DS-ASD) diagnosis and hear from
several families of children with DS-ASD. You'll also read about
the most common conditions that accompany autism and learn how to find
support in your community. Lastly, you'll learn how genetic
testing is opening the door to better screening and interventions for
autism and other co-occurring conditions.
Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorder: Learning about the DS-ASD
diagnosis
Finding out your child with Down syndrome has co-occurring autism can
be a lot to process for any parent, but with the right tools and
resources, you can support your child through every step of their
lifelong journey. Learn more about the DS-ASD diagnosis, symptoms of
the dual diagnosis and the resources available to you in our new
DS-ASD webpage: [link removed]
Families of children with a dual Down syndrome-autism diagnosis share
their unique stories
The intersection between Down syndrome and autism can be quite
complex, especially for parents as they navigate through a gamut of
doctors, specialists, therapists and support workers in hopes of
helping their children reach their full potential. Hear from the
parents of Jake ([link removed] , Jonathan ([link removed] ) and Boston ([link removed] )
who each share their personal journeys in obtaining a dual DS-ASD
diagnosis for their child.
Expert Q&A: Explaining the most common conditions that accompany
autism
Many autistic people experience other medical, behavioral or mental
health disorders that can create challenges and affect their quality
of life. Often, these co-occurring conditions can make it difficult to
get an accurate diagnosis and manage overlapping symptoms. In this
Q&A, Amanda Bennett Palladino, MD, MPH, shares some of the most
common conditions that accompany autism and offers support and
resources to those coping with co-occurring conditions: [link removed]
Research shows a connection between ASD-linked genes and some medical
conditions
A study published in the Journal of Child Health Care shows that
people with genetic mutations associated with ASD are at higher risk
for other co-occurring conditions, such as seizures, allergies and GI
problems. Read more about the study results: [link removed]
Genetic testing can improve early detection of co-occurring conditions
Genetic testing has opened the door to a deeper understanding of
autism's co-occurring conditions, allowing for early detection
and better interventions. In this blog post, Dean Hartley, senior
director of genetic discovery and translational science at Autism
Speaks, shares how genetic testing can benefit people with autism and
discusses the work Autism Speaks is doing to advance the field: [link removed]
Hop into Spring with Bunny Cares!
This Spring, continue or start a treasured holiday tradition with
Cherry Hill Programs Bunny Cares events. You or your loved one can
visit the Easter Bunny in a sensory-friendly environment at select
locations near you on April 3 (and additional dates at some
locations). Click here to find a location near you: [link removed]
Wear blue during April - World Autism Month: [link removed]
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