Several months ago, new research was released from Princeton University. I haven’t quite figured out why, but it didn’t really get the press or publicity that I thought it might. Sidenote, here I am almost 6 months later, finally writing about it.
The research shows what many have known, that there are different types of autism. This research does two important things. It figures out that there are four different kinds, and it helps us identify those four different kinds.
I’ve talked to many families in the past who want to know what we did to help our oldest, who was diagnosed with autism at age 2, be successful. When they talk about the things with their children, they’re often very different than our experience. Now with this research, we have the words we need to help understand why that might be.
You can reference the research here, but for a short update, the four types are:
(ASD is Autism Spectrum Disorder)
*Social and Behavioral Challenges
*Mixed ASD with Developmental Delay
*Moderate Challenges
*Broadly Affected
This is a vast difference from back when we got our diagnosis in 2003. There were simply mild, medium, and high, and they didn’t have defined parameters that were easy to understand.
So this new research does two things for us. One is to help identify the category. And the reason for that being so important is the second thing that the research helps us understand is how to best work with these individuals to help them have the highest rate of success. So, for example, you would not work in the same style with someone who has social and behavioral challenges as you would with someone who has moderate challenges.
As a proponent of all research, I am excited for the many therapists I know to be able to take this information forward in the work they do. The more we learn, the better we can do.
