Autism Spectrum

Host Paul Rokuski welcomes Dr. Sally Rogers, Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and Director of Training and Mentoring at the MIND Institute of the University of California-Davis. Dr. Rogers specializes in conducting developmental and treatment research into autism and other developmental disorders. She is currently focused on developing and improving treatments for early autism using a treatment model that she developed in collaboration with Geraldine Dawson, the Early Start Denver Model.

Andy Bondy, PhD, Co-Founder and President of Pyramid Educational Consultants, Inc. join host Paul Rokuski for an in-depth discussion on the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), which allows children with autism who have little or no communication abilities a novel means of communicating non-verbally.

Autism Spectrum Disorder has had some profound effects on our global culture over the past few years. As greater understandings of this neurological disorder are communicated by scientists, physicians, advocacy groups, educational professionals and parents, public awareness shifts and societies reshape how autism is ultimately perceived.

Paul Rokuskie welcomes Richard Grinker, PhD, Professor and Chair of Anthropology, and Director of the Institute for Ethnographic Research, at the George Washington University. Their discussion centers on how cultures are affecting the way autism is understood, evaluated, and even diagnosed across the world.

Social and emotional skills come fairly easily for neurotypical individuals. But for those with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), these may be some of the most challenging skills to learn. Thankfully there is a lot of experience among educators using techniques to help individuals with ASD become more social. Join host Paul Rokuskie as he welcomes speech/language pathologist Jill Kuzma to discuss therapeutic approaches for social cognitive deficits in children with ASD.

When Derek Volk's oldest child, Dylan, was two years old, his wife suggested, "Something is not quite right with Dylan." They struggled for the next several years as they were bounced from one diagnostician to another, each offering a unique perspective on Dylan's challenging behaviors. Finally, at eight years old, Dylan was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome and the Volk family was able to start making sense of Dylan's differences. In Chasing the Rabbit, authors Derek and Dylan Volk share their respective experiences coping with the challenges of autism in the household and the healthcare system.

Autism spectrum disorder has been around for centuries, but the modern terminology of how it is defined only started in 1943 by Dr. Leo Kanner of Johns Hopkins Hospital. Since then, the definition of autism has changed many times, refined into today’s current understanding of this mental disorder. But one point of constancy over this time frame has been the advocacy work of mothers and fathers to better understand the disease that impacts their children’s lives, helping educate communities around them in turn to foster greater compassion and awareness.

In this episode of the Autism Spectrum, host Paul Rokuskie speaks with Eustacia Cutler, autism rights advocate and mother of Dr. Temple Grandin, who is often referred to as the first person officially diagnosed with autism in the United States.

Joint attention, one of the defining characteristics of social interactions that becomes impaired in children with autism, is a developmental milestone of great importance to researchers and clinicians alike. With early detection of autism spectrum disorder, children can receive better treatments to gain more exposure and training for critical social processes. But is it possible for early detection of joint attention deficits, even in infancy, to one day serve as diagnostic markers for the disease? Joining host Paul Rokuskie to discuss the state of research and awareness on this developmental milestone for children with autism are Dr. Daniel Messinger, Developmental Psychologist and Professor of Psychology, Pediatrics, and Engineering at the University of Miami, and Devon Gangi, PhD candidate in the Department of Psychology, also at the University of Miami.

Autism is not just a child matter. As the prevelance rates of autism continue to rise, so do the numbers of patients entering adulthood. What are the special challenges faced by these patients, their families, and the clinicians who treat and counsel them both respectively? And how can updated therapeutic approaches help change the life trajectories for adults with autism? Host Paul Rokuskie welcomes Dr. Marsha Mailick, Interim Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin. Her research on autism in adults has brought new awareness and understanding to the special needs of this patient population.

Associations between autism and gastrointestinal health are being actively investigated in medical research. Two major projects, each spanning three years, are focusing in particular on intestinal bacteria, ie the microbiome, and constipation, respectively. Leading the charge on these investigations are Drs. Pat Levitt and James Versalovic. Dr. Levitt is Chair of Developmental Neurogenetics at Children's Hospital - Los Angeles (CHLA), while Dr. Versalovic is Chief of the Department of Pathology at Texas Children's Hospital. Their work seeks to better understand how the human microbiome impacts neural health and development, and how refined treatments aimed at changing this potential "gut/brain axis" may aid therapies for autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders.

The funding for the research project that Dr. Pat Levitt and Dr. James Versalovic are conducting is awarded by a grant from Autism Speaks.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a significant public health issue, affecting over 1% of all American children under the age of 18. One organization, Autism Speaks, is accelerating the care of these individuals and their families to the next level through their Autism Treatment Network, which creates collaborations that bridge multiple discplines across the United States. Joining host Paul Rokuskie to elaborate on this initiative is Dr. Dan Coury, Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at Ohio State University and Medical Director of the Autism Treatment Network.