It is estimated that nearly 1.5 million Americans have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and about 1 in 110 children are believed to have some form of autism, according to the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Find out what new research and treatment plans are being developed to address the increased diagnosis of ASD seen over the past few decades at a panel discussion at the 2010 Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
A panel of experts will discuss the newest advances and research findings in the identification and treatment of ASD from 8 to 10 a.m. Sunday, May 2, at the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre.
The panel, moderated by Daniel Coury, MD, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, includes:
- Clara Lajonchere, PhD, University of Southern California, Autism Speaks, will present recent findings in autism genetics and discuss implications for translational study.
- Susan Swedo, MD, Pediatrics and Developmental Neuropsychiatry, National Institutes of Mental Health, will discuss common medical comorbidities and their potential significance in treatment for children and adolescents with ASD.
- Jeffrey Brosco, MD, PhD, University of Miami School of Medicine, will describe boundaries of family-centered care in treating children with ASD and discuss the ethical challenges physicians face.
- James Perrin, MD, Harvard Medical School, will answer the questions parents and caregivers want to know, such as: What is the medical community doing to help children with ASD? What have we learned? What progress has been made in establishing research and intervention networks?
Animal characters can play an important role in children's psychological development