Comments on: A Biomarker for Autism: Accelerated Head Growth?

By: The Supercharged Brain

The Supercharged Brain — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:02:48 +0000

[...] Their research, which included studying their own son who is borderline autistic, is backed up by one of the most replicated findings in autism which is abnormal brain growth. [...]

By: Another Test to Detect Autism Earlier

Another Test to Detect Autism Earlier — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:16:14 +0000

[...] observation of a child’s behavior, researchers believe that the development of a test, of a biomarker for autism, might result. Professor Duan’s studies rely on two “subgroups” of [...]

By: The Puzzling Spectrum of Autism Causes

The Puzzling Spectrum of Autism Causes — Mon, 05 May 2008 18:28:40 +0000

[...] surprise that the search is on for a biomarker for autism (one such candidate is accelerated head growth). If we could just pinpoint what causes autism, then we could figure out a [...]

By: Genes and Brain Growth

Genes and Brain Growth — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 06:06:18 +0000

[...] at the University of Washington’s Autism Center are studying if accelerated head growth might be a biomarker for autism. Today’s Technology [...]

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 03:38:42 +0000

Yes, it’s amazing how parents can worry!

By: anonymous

anonymous — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 03:29:51 +0000

I have a bit of a bigger head then normal folks. Am I autistic or Special? Hell no. Its who I am, and I will leave it be.

I don’t need a doctor to check me up, nor do I need to get studied.

There are people with small heads too in this world. All you parents stop worrying so much and stop putting you kids on medication.

By: RAJ

RAJ — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:06:00 +0000

“I tend not to think that researchers are so stupid that they don’t think of controls or reference, but it also depends on which controls, generally there is standard deviations associated with this as well, significance testing, etc. etc..”

The study examined only children who had an ASD diagnosis. The deviations in head circumference are based on known standards taken from the general population. The study had NO controls. Whether they thought of using controls other than the general population statistics is subject to debate.

This is a systematic problem caused by overspecialization. There are many genetic mental retardation syndromes which are linked to autism, for example Fragile X, Tuberous Sclerosis, more recently Down’s Syndrome and chromosome 16 deletions/additions.

The phenotype for all these syndromes is mental retardation with a minority having enough autistic-type behaviors to qualify for an ASD diagnosis.

None of these disorders qualify for an autism phenotype designation.

By: Norah

Norah — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:49:09 +0000

I had trouble sitting, standing and walking too (and anything else physical), way past the ‘milestone’ dates. But I don’t have a big head at all and never used to have one either.

By: Leanne

Leanne — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:01:53 +0000

My big headed boy is NT. Patrick’s head is almost exactly average. I wonder what percentage of ALL children have large heads? How can this be a “marker” if only 20% of the autistic children had overly large heads?

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:51:48 +0000

Thanks for that study—–yes, this is making me think of phrenology, and of the developmental pediatrician who did an extensive inventory of Charlie’s facial features when he was 3. And of a study that noted large ear lobes in autistic boys, if I am maybe remembering right (or not).