The hottest Autism Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health & Wellness Topics

The Autism Surge: Lies, Conspiracies, and My Own Kids

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 7776 implied HN points • 20 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Autism Diagnosis Research
  1. Autism diagnoses in California have increased significantly over the past few decades, with a 50-fold surge in cases over 33 years.
  2. The rise in autism cases cannot solely be explained by better or broader diagnostics, indicating a real and concerning increase in the disorder.
  3. The lack of clear understanding of the causes of autism and the increasing rates point towards a pressing need for better research, support, and services for individuals with autism.

Autism diagnoses are rising, yes, but autism, probably not

Just Emil Kirkegaard Things • 923 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🔬 Science Autism Diagnosis Mental health Genetics Bioethics
  1. Autism diagnoses are increasing due to more liberal diagnostic criteria and shifts in categorization.
  2. There is a trend of decreasing thresholds for autism diagnoses, including reclassifying individuals previously diagnosed with other conditions.
  3. The prevalence of autism is influenced by genetic factors, and options for reducing autism risk may raise ethical questions.

What explains the outsized success of autistic applicants to college

Penelope Trunk's Substack • 2 HN points • 25 Apr 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Autism Mental health Neurodiversity Empathy
  1. OCD can lead to inventive success, offering fulfillment through consistency and trial-and-error problem solving.
  2. ADHD can result in hyperfocus on interesting topics, which is valued by top colleges seeking specialist applicants.
  3. Dyslexia can lead to information-driven learning style, allowing autistic individuals to excel in academia by quickly grasping and utilizing information to share ideas.
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URGENT: Giving mRNA Covid vaccines to pregnant rats caused brain changes and autism-like behavior in their young, a new study shows

Unreported Truths • 48 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🏥 Health Politics Vaccines Pregnancy Autism Research Risk Assessment
  1. A study showed that giving mRNA Covid vaccines to pregnant rats caused brain changes and autism-like behaviors in their offspring.
  2. Pregnant women were excluded from the initial vaccine trials, but they have been strongly encouraged to get the shots due to Covid risks associated with pregnancy.
  3. Understanding the potential impact of vaccines on autism and brain changes in offspring would require extensive and costly research.

Splitting Versus Blending: An AI-Inspired Theory of Neurotypical Advantage

72 Degrees North • 19 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Social Behavior Corporate culture Autism
  1. Neurodiversity includes a range of communication styles, each with unique advantages and disadvantages.
  2. Allistic individuals tend to blend multiple possibilities in social interactions, which can lead to quicker decision-making but also vulnerability to manipulation.
  3. Psychopaths may exploit neurodivergent and neurotypical social tendencies for personal gain, highlighting the importance of understanding and navigating various communication styles.

A tablet-based AI app screens for autism by measuring several behavioral signs

philsiarri • 1 HN point • 02 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Autism AI Screening
  1. SenseToKnow app uses AI on a tablet to screen for autism by analyzing behavior indicators like facial expressions and motor skills.
  2. Algorithms compare child's biomarkers to data to detect autism and provide scores for data quality and result confidence.
  3. SenseToKnow app shows high sensitivity and specificity in autism detection, potentially improving early diagnosis and intervention.

How scientists measure if you have good friends

Penelope Trunk's Substack • 0 implied HN points • 30 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Friendships Research Autism Emotions Relationships
  1. Research shows that reciprocal friendships are key. It's important for your best friend to consider you their best friend too.
  2. Engagement in friendship involves pride, fun, pressure, emotions, specialness, and commitment. Reflect on where your friends fall on this list.
  3. Friendships evolve over stages of life. In your 20s, you may have many friends, but by your 30s, it's common to have only a few close friends and focus on family.

Unveiling my secret YouTube channel

Penelope Trunk's Substack • 0 implied HN points • 29 Nov 23
🚌 Education Research Autism YouTube Learning Courses
  1. The author reveals a secret YouTube channel they initially hated but now love, showcasing their transition to academia and passion for learning through videos.
  2. Despite struggles with new software and organization, the author's dedication shines through in making 30 educational videos on autism, reflecting exploding exuberance.
  3. Sharing the journey of creating these videos and promoting an autism course, the author emphasizes their desire for the content to be fun, interesting, and useful, showcasing their hard work and eagerness.

When kids were encouraged to collect rodents

Penelope Trunk's Substack • 0 implied HN points • 20 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Autism Family Mental health
  1. In a latchkey childhood scenario, the author's family unintentionally ended up with a surplus of gerbils due to not understanding their breeding habits.
  2. The story highlights the unique dynamics of a family dealing with a high-powered working mom, a Harvard Law School-educated dad, and the unexpected challenges of gerbil overpopulation.
  3. The author's journey to understand autism stems from observing how genius and unique behaviors can coexist within a family, leading to an upcoming autism course.

School is a sensory nightmare

Penelope Trunk's Substack • 0 implied HN points • 11 Nov 23
🚌 Education Autism Environment Research
  1. School environments can be overwhelming due to sensory issues for kids, especially those with autism.
  2. Changing the environment to suit sensory needs is crucial, as seen in an example of creating a personal 'castle' for sensory comfort.
  3. Children are more likely to fulfill their sensory needs at home where they can control the environment, compared to the chaotic sensory experience in classrooms.

Your partner isn't a narcissist

Penelope Trunk's Substack • 0 implied HN points • 30 Sep 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Autism Relationships Mental health Therapy Genetics
  1. The idea that a partner might be perceived as a narcissist could actually be a misinterpretation of autism traits.
  2. Autism and narcissism can share certain characteristics, like difficulty in understanding other people's feelings and a focus on oneself.
  3. It's common for people with autism to attract and be attracted to others with autism, which can lead to challenges and misunderstandings in relationships.