Brain Waves Shed Light on Autism

i like the researcher that called it "preliminary, with promise" - it sounds to me like an amazing breakthrough, but it may not be relevant for ALL kids with autism. Every child with autism is different, with different delays, behaviors, and sensory issues. But if it can be used to help even SOME kids with autism, thats an outstanding LEAP forward in the field!

I see your point CraigNChz, but my friend's son is absolutely miserable with his autism. His classmates pick on him and he feels inhibited that he cannot do the same things they do.
You're right, of course, that many autistic people are geniuses. But perhaps we should see how it affects theiri lives before saying that it shouldn't be cured. Einstein's autism (if he had it) wasn't too severe. He could talk and communicate. There are some autistic people who cannot express themselves at all, and lead lonely lives in their "own world."

I agree that this could be the first step in a major breakthrough in autism research. I also have a good friend with an autistic child. He is now 8 and considered high functioning, but I remember when he was a small child all the challenges his parents faced. It took him much longer than most children to begin speaking clearly, although it seemed he was speaking his own language early on. He has also had to learn to deal with incredibly acute senses (i.e. bright lights, loud noises, crowded places, strong odors).

With that being said, and I think my friends with the autistic child would agree, I don't think autism should necessarily be considered a disease or disability. While he has had difficulties with things that most people don't, he is also a BRILLIANT child. His understanding of how things work, his imagination, and his problem solving abilities are phenomenal. I think that we should be concentrating on learning more about it and it's affects on the brain, and how to better communicate with those who have autism, rather than simply "curing" it. There are countless accounts of autistic men and women who are prodigies or savants. Why would you want to "cure" someone of that? It's been suggested that Einstein was autistic. Where would the world of science be if he had been cured?

Just something to think about before we jump to the solution of "it's abnormal so we have to eradicate it."

My friend's son has autism, so this article really touches me. I hope they find a cure soon!

this sounds like an amazing breakthrough, but I can't help thinking there must be more to autism than falling behind in spoken syllables - though I suppose this research may imply visual signals too? hence difficulty in processing facial expressions for some sufferers?

that helmet thing's insanely cool.

This is a good study, i hope they have all they need to be ably to take it further.