Over the past two decades, research on autism has expanded at an extraordinary pace. Studies on prevalence, lived experience, and...

In the past two decades, our societies have become more fluent in the language of mental health. Public campaigns  encourage people to...

Over the past decade, mental health awareness campaigns have expanded significantly across the Western world. These efforts, ranging from school-based interventions to high-profile celebrity disclosures, have reduced stigma, improved mental health literacy, and encouraged help-seeking (Sampogna et al. 2017; Schomerus et al. 2012; Henderson et al. 2017). At the same time, however, reported rates of mental health conditions—including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and s

Autism has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent decades. Once thought of as a rare and narrowly defined childhood condition,...

In most cases, ASD is diagnosed between 15 and 30 months. Some children exhibit typical early development, only to lose acquired language and social skills between 15 and 30 months. These cases qualify as regressive autism. However, there are instances of late onset autism where individuals appear to develop typically until adolescence or even adulthood before displaying symptoms consistent with autism. In such cases, an identifiable neurological insult, such as, e.g, herpes

Regression in autism, often seen within the first two years of life, represents a distinct subtype of autism that has sparked considerable scientific interest. While the exact causes of regression are still not fully understood, current research points to a combination of genetic, environmental, metabolic, immune, and neurological factors.

Complex developmental path s Regression  in autism refers to the loss of previously acquired developmental skills—such as spoken language, social interaction, play behaviour, motor coordination, or toileting skills. For example, a toddler who once used several words regularly might suddenly stop speaking, or a child who previously engaged in play with others may withdraw socially. What makes regression distinct from general developmental delay is that the child initially reac

It’s easy to get caught up in the search for new symbols, new slogans, new ways to “reframe” autism. But the risk is that these abstract concepts become so polished, so removed from the daily lived reality of many autistic individuals, that they stop representing them at all. Not everything has to be shiny or new. Not everything has to be metaphorical or aspirational. Sometimes, the most powerful way to accept autism is not through symbols—but through sustained, patient, and

Thirty years ago, I could not even imagine that the symbol of the jigsaw puzzle (in the context of autism) could have negative connotations. However, lately, I’ve heard that some people not just dislike it, they are offended by it. (???) Let's look at it "autistically", i.e., literally (without adding any connotations - neither positive nor negative) and metaphorically. Jigsaw Puzzles – (in both literal and metaphorical meanings) Jigsaw puzzles : (1) a picture stuck onto wood