Am I reading this correctly?

1 out of 64 children may have autism? Here's the link I got directly from www.autismnews.com (great site!).

http://www.theautismnews.com/2009/05/29/one-in-every-64-children-could-have-autism-cambridge-researchers-find/?awesm=a2a.me_8rt&utm_campaign=addtoany&utm_content=a2a&utm_medium=a2a.me-twitter&utm_source=twitter.com

One in every 64 children could have autism, Cambridge researchers find
May 29th, 2009
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By Rebecca Smith Medical Editor Telegraph

A study of schoolchildren in Cambridge has found that for every three children who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder there are around two who have the condition but have not been given a formal diagnosis.

It is estimated that around one in 100 children between five-years-old and nine-years-old have autism, meaning there are around 500,000 in the UK. But when researchers carried out more detailed assessments of 11,700 children, they found the true prevalence could be as high as one in 64.

Hundreds of thousands of children with autism have not been diagnosed, Cambridge University scientists have found.

This would mean that there are an additional 300,000 children in Britain with autism spectrum disorder but who have not yet been identified.

The study was led by Professor Simon Baron-Cohen at the Autism Research Centre and is published in the British Journal of Psychiatry.

Autism is a spectrum disorder with cases ranging from relatively mild problems with social interaction to more severe difficulties in behaviour such as not speaking, copying, rigid routines and social isolation.

Prof Baron-Cohen said: “We shouldn’t assume that what we are currently diagnosing is the full picture, there is no room for complacency. But equally we shouldn’t be alarmist and say we should be going out and actively looking for these cases. We should wait until those people want help. It is always better if the patient or their family is looking for help rather than it being thrust upon them.”

He said the undiagnosed cases are likely to be at the mild end of the spectrum, are coping well with their families and may not need a diagnosis.

Prof Baron-Cohen said that for some families the autism label may ‘raise anxieties’ and be intrusive, rather than helpful.

The researchers used the Special Educational Needs (SEN) registers in schools, covering 8,824 children attending 79 schools and found 83 cases of autism-spectrum conditions giving a prevalence of one in 106 children.

Then they sent a diagnosis survey to the parents of 11,700 children in Cambridgeshire. From the 3,373 completed surveys, 41 cases were reported corresponding to a prevalence of one in 101.
Finally, the team sent the Childhood Autism Screening Test (CAST) to parents of the same 11,700 children to help identify any undiagnosed cases of autism-spectrum conditions.
All children who scored highly, along with a selection of medium and low scorers, were called in for further assessment.

Excluding the 41 cases already known about, the team found an additional 11 children who met research diagnostic criteria for an autism spectrum condition but had not yet been diagnosed.
The research said this could mean that for every three cases of autism spectrum that are diagnosed, there may be another two that are undiagnosed, giving a ratio of known to unknown cases of 3:2.

Prof Baron-Cohen said: “The two independent sources of information – the SEN register and diagnosis survey – provide converging evidence on the prevalence of autism spectrum conditions as being around one per cent of primary school-age children. This is about 12 times higher than 30 years ago; including the previously undiagnosed cases, this means that one in 64 children may at some point in their lives require support and services.”

The increase in the prevalence of autism is probably due to better recognition of the condition by both parents and doctors, wider diagnostic criteria and more diagnostic services.

Prof Tony Charman, chairman in Autism Education, Institute of Education, London, said: “This study confirms findings from other recent work, including our own, that around on per cent of school age children have an autism spectrum disorder. The study also shows that in a significant proportion of cases children meeting research criteria for an autism spectrum disorder were unrecognised by schools and local health services. Accurate figures for the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders are important for planning health, social and education services.”

Mark Lever, Chief Executive of the National Autistic Society, said: “This is important research, which for the first time gives us an estimate of the number of people who don’t have an autism diagnosis but may be in need of support. Getting the right support at the right time is vitally important and access to appropriate diagnostic services is crucial.”

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/5400079/One-in-every-64-children-could-have-autism-Cambridge-researchers-find.html
Please share this news with friends, family and also with your contact list on Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.

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Follow Joey's Hope on Twitter. Just search joeyshope or Michelle Hogan (I've recently changed my name).

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I only post things related to my son and the everyday issues we face, whether it's a good day or a bad day, etc. I hope someone out there finds it helpful so they don't feel so alone as I know many of us do.

Support for Grandparents

SARRC offers a support group for Grandparents in AZ.

Here's the info:
Support for Grandparents of Children with Autism:

When a grandchild is diagnosed with autism, a grandparent mourns twice—once for their grandchild and again for their child. Having a son or daughter faced with the challenge of raising a child with autism, grandparents want to do all they can to support their children and their grandchildren. SARRC’s Grandparents Support Group is the vision of Kathy Bosco, a grandparent of a child with autism. Kathy recognized the growing need to include grandparents in the circle of help and hope through providinga real understanding of autism. Most importantly, the group focuses on providing grandparents with the tools and knowledge that will empower their entire family as they navigate the world of autism. Since its beginning, Grandparents Group has grown to include more than 300 grandparents throughout Arizona, many of whom have children living across the country. The invaluable blend of hope, research and education gained through presentations at the monthly group meetings help grandparents support their families wherever their location.

The goal of the Grandparent Support Group is to -
EMPOWER...the Grandparents Group meets monthlyfrom October through May at SARRC's Campus forExceptional Children. Through facilitated discussions,individuals gain insight, develop strength and find hopethrough shared experiences.
ENRICH...Guest speakers and professionalpresentations provide key information on the latestresearch, therapeutic programs and resources available inthe field of autism.
SUPPORT...The Grandparents Group is here for you! Byattending the meetings, you will collect vital information,tips and strategies that will help your entire family whereveryou may be on the lifelong journey of autism.
GET INVOLVED...Be a member of our dynamicGrandparent Volunteer Team! There are many greatopportunities for grandparents to give back to familiesaffected by autism through volunteerism.

For more information, please contact Addie Mocca, volunteer coordinator, at(602) 218-8203 or Kathy Bosco, Grandparents Group chair, at (602) 956-4322.

Here's the link:
http://www.autismcenter.org/resources.aspx

Walk with Wubbzy...Join Us!

Joey D's Crew is back to walk the web with Wubbzy. This is Joey's favorite cartoon character so I couldn't resist. Here's the link:

http://www.walknowforautism.org/waadwalk/joeydscrew

Join our team or donate or BOTH!!!

Any help is greatly appreciated for this worthy cause.

Love,

Michelle & Joey

6 Month Follow-up at Melmed

We had our 6 month follow up on April 8th. It went well and overall, his developmental pediatrician said he was improving. The psychiatrist ran some tests earlier that day and even though I thought they asked him some questions that a typical 4 year old would not know the answers to, they said that they were just trying to get a range and that he was performing well.

The one thing I left with that is worrisome is that the pediatrician said that he "may just grow into an Asperger's diagnosis." Huh? Clinicians at SARRC have told me that I shouldn't worry about the diagnosis and just "treat the symptoms," but I can't help but worry. Here I was thinking he may lose his diagnosis eventually, but instead it may just change. I've heard it's common to change a diagnosis but it just seems like a dead end road by saying that he'll grow into another one.

Daddy's Gone

As of Wednesday morning, April 2nd, Joey's Daddy left for the baseball season. We've had a few phone calls since then but haven't heard from him in the last few days. That's ok, since Joey isn't much of a talker on the phone. Joey hasn't asked for him which is good. He told me before Ben left that "Daddy is going away." It made it sound like Daddy was going to jail. The next day, when we passed his old apartment complex, Joey said "that's Daddy's house." Processing emotions can be difficult for him and it almost seems like that's a positive thing during this time.

Upcoming Events at SARRC

Teaching Through Music

This workshop is designed for parents, educators, therapists,
habilitators and others working or living with preschool and school age children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).

Through fun and interactive activities, participants will learn easy to implement strategies and examples of how music can be incorporated into any program in the home, school and community setting. Using applied behavior analysis (ABA) as a framework, participants will also learn how music can be a functional and motivating intervention to teach social,
interpersonal, academic and language/communication skills as well as improve attention and participation.

When:
Saturday, April 25, 2009
9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Cost:
$30.00
Presenter:
Holly Sokol,
M.Ed., MT-BC, Music Therapist
DEADLINE for registration is April 20th
SARRC
300 N. 18th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85006
(602) 340-8717 Office Phone
(602) 340-8720 Office Fax
(480) 603-3284 Workshop Phone
www.autismcenter.com

AND

A Behavioral Approach to Promoting Speech and Language in Children with ASD
Joanne Gerenser, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Recommended for speech - language pathologists, occupational therapists, habilitators, families and others working or living with an individual with ASD.
This conference will provide a model for integrating research in the areas of psycholinguistic development, early social development, as well as lexical development within behavioral programming for children with autism. Research in the development of joint attention will be reviewed with implications for the deficits present in children with autism. Strategies to promote joint attention behaviors will be provided. Critical skills for the development of speech will be reviewed as well as programs to promote early vocal and verbal behaviors. The workshop will provide an overview of the literature on word learning as well as the nature of the deficits within this area present in children with autism. Concepts such as fast and slow mapping will be reviewed. Programs to develop and expand vocabulary as well as to promote abstract and higher level language will be reviewed.

In addition to the focus on programming, this workshop will address the complexities of meeting the speech, language and communication needs of individuals with ASD across the different disciplines. Specifically, strategies for collaboration among the behavior analyst, speech-language pathologist and classroom teaching staff will be discussed.

Agenda
8:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Registration
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Dr. Joanne Gerenser
12:30-1:30 p.m.
Lunch
(Lunch not included)
1:30-4:00 p.m
Dr. Joanne Gerenser continued
4:00-5:00 p.m.
Panel Question & Answer
Teresa Cardon, M.A., CCC-SLP
Dr. Jeanne Wilcox, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
When:
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Where:
SARRC
300 N. 18th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85006
Cost:
$65
Susan Fugate, M.S., CCP-SLP
Patty McCartney, M.S., CCC-SLP
Nicolette Judge, M.S., CCC-SLP
Learner Objectives
1. The participant will gain an understanding of the specific language learning challenges associated with ASD
2. The participant will understand the possible challenges faced by different disciplines working together on a team to address the speech-language needs of learners with ASD
3. The participant will be able to describe joint attention as well as understand the challenges in development of these behaviors in learners with ASD
4. The participant will identify a number of strategies to promote joint attention behaviors in young children with ASD
5. The participant will discuss speech development as well as the challenges to speech development in children with ASD
6. The participant will be able to develop a program to address verbal and vocal development in children with ASD
7. The participant will be able to discuss concepts such as lexical development and organization, fast and slow mapping and how these concepts apply to children with ASD
8. The participant will be able to discuss the procedures of applied behavior analysis and how to use those procedures in treatment.
Joanne Gerenser, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Joanne is the Executive Director of the Eden II Programs. She received her Master’s degree in Speech and Hearing at the Ohio State University and her Ph.D. in Speech and Hearing Science at the City University of New York Graduate Center. She is an adjunct Assistant Professor at Brooklyn College as well as Penn State University. Joanne is a member of the Scientific Advisory Council for the Organization for Autism Research. Joanne is co-author of the interactive CD-ROM entitled "Behavioral Programming for Children with Autism". She has authored several book chapters and articles on autism and developmental disabilities. She is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Applied Behavior Analysis. She sits on a number of Professional Advisory Boards for several programs serving children and adults with autism in the US and abroad. She has received numerous awards for her work with children and adults with autism, including the Nassau Suffolk Autism Lifetime Achievement Award, the Mosaic Foundation’s Educator of Excellence Award, the Elija Chariot Award, as well as Staten Island’s Albert V. Maniscalco Community Service Award.
This course is offered for a total of 0.6 ASHA CEU’s (Intermediate level,
Professional area), ASHA CE Provider approval does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products or clinical procedures
Registration: A Behavioral Approach to Promoting Speech and Language in Children with ASD.
Please make checks payable to: SARRC
300 N. 18th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85006
To register, please call: (480) 603-3284 or
email training@autismcenter.org
Cancellations received seven working days prior to this presentation are refundable less a $40.00 administrative charge.
Payment is nonrefundable for cancellations made after May 15, 2009.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Amount included: $ Registration Fee $65.00 per person
Name: Name of Organization:
Address
City: State: Zip:
Email:
Work Phone :( ) Cell :( )