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Editor's note
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Therapy for autism usually starts after a child is given a diagnosis, which rarely happens before the age of two. But new research from Andrew Whitehouse, Kandice Varcin and Kristine Hurdry shows there is benefit to starting early, before a formal diagnosis can be made.
They studied 103 infants who showed early signs of autism – such as not responding to their names, poor eye contact, and few social smiles – and gave half the group early therapy.
After six months, those toddlers understood an average of 37 more words and spoke an average of 15 more words than those who didn’t receive early therapy, which has important implications for how we ration disability care in this country.
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Fron Jackson-Webb
Deputy Editor/Senior Health + Medicine Editor
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Top story
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The theory is that if therapies are started early enough, it might be possible to alter the trajectory of autism.
Shutterstock
Andrew Whitehouse, University of Western Australia; Kandice Varcin, Telethon Kids Institute; Kristelle Hudry, La Trobe University
Children with autism don't usually begin therapy until they're given a diagnosis, which rarely occurs before the age of two. But new research shows there's benefit to starting early.
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The key to an effective team-builiding exercise is understanding a team is a social network built on connections between individuals.
www.shutterstock.com
Julien Pollack, University of Sydney; Petr Matous, University of Sydney
There is a more effective approach to team-building than obstacle courses. It doesn't even necessarily involve the whole team.
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For a constitutional amendment to succeed, it has to achieve majorities in parliament, federally and in a majority of states.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Anne Twomey, University of Sydney
The authors of the Australian Constitution ensured that the country's guiding document could never be changed on a whim or for political expediency.
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Some 22% of the worlds’ coastlines are exposed to artificial light at night.
Emily Fobert
Emily Fobert, Flinders University
Clownfish eggs exposed to artificial light completely fail to hatch, highlighting the growing problem of light pollution.
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Science + Technology
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Sumeet Walia, RMIT University; Taimur Ahmed, RMIT University
Our brains create new memories, and forget old ones, by forging and breaking connections between nerve cells. Now researchers can do something similar using a light-sensitive electronic chip.
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Politics + Society
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Harry Hobbs, University of Technology Sydney; Alison Whittaker, University of Technology Sydney; Lindon Coombes, University of Technology Sydney
Queensland has become the latest state or territory to embark on an Indigenous treaty process. But for lasting progress to be made, the federal government cannot shirk its responsibility.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
Megan Davis says the idea of including an Indigenous Voice in the Constitution is being rejected on an understanding that "simply isn't true" but believes Australia has the "capacity to correct this".
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Arts + Culture
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Mair Underwood, The University of Queensland
The 'revenge body' was once the domain of celebrity gossip. But with the advent of social media, anyone can publicly display a 'new' body post break-up.
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Education
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Brittany Huber, Swinburne University of Technology
Most Australians exceed the guidelines for screen time, and most parents feel guilty about the time their child spends on the screen. But not all screen time is bad. Content matters.
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Health + Medicine
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Matthew Yau, James Cook University
A woman with a disability has won the right to have a sex therapist funded under the NDIS. This sets a positive precedent, but the NDIS should go further and fund sex worker services, too.
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Featured jobs
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University of Melbourne — Parkville, Victoria
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Featured events
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Building A, McMahon's Road, Peninsula campus, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria, 3199, Australia — Monash University
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