The hottest Autism Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health & Wellness Topics

Girl Storm (2023) by Peg Kerswell

Tao Lin • 599 implied HN points • 22 Jul 24
📚 Literature Memoir Autism Health Parenting Self-help
  1. Raising a profoundly autistic child can be incredibly challenging and heartbreaking. The author shares true stories of frustration and helplessness while caring for her daughter Ellie.
  2. There is a growing concern about the rising cases of profound autism, with the author questioning the commonly held belief that autism is purely genetic. The book highlights the potential roles of diet and environmental factors.
  3. Despite the struggles, the memoir offers a perspective that can cultivate gratitude in readers. It serves as a reminder of the importance of support and love in difficult circumstances.

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.
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NBC Blasts Trump and Kennedy for Wanting to Conduct Vaccine-Autism Studies

Injecting Freedom • 84 implied HN points • 08 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Vaccines Autism Public Health Political Debate Medical Research
  1. NBC criticized Trump and Kennedy for wanting to explore a possible link between vaccines and autism. They say it has been thoroughly studied and debunked, but some people think more research is needed.
  2. Many parents of autistic children believe vaccines might have caused their child's autism. However, there haven't been enough studies specifically on this issue to confirm or deny that link.
  3. Despite claims that vaccines don't cause autism, there’s a lack of solid studies backing it up. This raises questions about the safety of vaccines and other health concerns that parents have.

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.

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.

What would happen if the government required AI models to tell the truth?

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 10 implied HN points • 08 Nov 24
🏥 Health Politics Vaccines Autism Public Health Research Ethics Government Policy
  1. If AI models had to tell the truth, we could expect more honest answers to important questions. This could change how we interact with technology and rely on its information.
  2. There have been claims and studies suggesting a link between vaccines and autism, but many scientists disagree. It's a complex issue that needs more open research.
  3. Government oversight of AI and medical research could ensure better transparency and accountability. This would help the public trust information provided by these systems.

Do vaccines cause autism?

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 7 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Vaccines Public Health Medical Research Autism Health Education
  1. Vaccines and autism have been debated often, but many experts say there is no link between them. It's important to look at good data and research.
  2. A recent survey found that many families have children with autism, raising questions about what could be causing it. Understanding this issue is really important for families.
  3. The author wants to collect personal stories from families about when their child started showing signs of autism. He believes it's crucial to gather more information in this area.

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.

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.

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.

Stay Weird 🤪

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 0 implied HN points • 21 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Neurodiversity Autism Employment Society
  1. Many successful people, like Elon Musk and Steve Jobs, are considered 'weird' or neurodiverse. This shows that being different can lead to great achievements.
  2. Autistic individuals often face challenges in daily life and finding jobs. Many struggle with social skills and sensory sensitivities.
  3. A large number of autistic people are unemployed, despite having talents and skills. Society needs to find better ways to support them in the workplace.

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.