Brain waves could be a window into why autistic children struggle with language and learning.
Researchers at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia say their preliminary results found a difference betwen the brain wave patterns of children with autism and children without. The study was presented at the Radiological Society of North America in Chicago.
The doctors say they used imaging helmets much like old fashioned hair salon dryers, and found that the brain waves of autistic kids show a delay in sound processing. The delay, only a fraction of a second, can still account for issues with listening and language that children with autism face
Coincidentally, the December issue of Pediatrics has another study on autism, this one about the financial cost of the condition.
This study found that compared to parents who's kids have other chronic problems, the parents of autistic children are three time more likely to either quit their job or reduce their work hours to care for their children.
