Introduction: Navigating the Digital Age of Autism Diagnosis Imagine trying to identify a standout piece in a puzzle of a thousand pieces, but instead of working at a puzzle table, you’re on a virtual video call. This is what autism assessments via telehealth might feel like for families and clinicians alike. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated […]
Tag: Developmental psychology
Embracing the Unseen: Exploring Neurodiversity in Higher Education
Introduction Imagine sitting in a crowded lecture hall, eagerly waiting for a class to begin, only to be engulfed by an overwhelming sense of alienation. This experience is not uncommon for many students who identify as neurodivergent, a term that describes individuals whose cognitive functioning varies from the societal norm, encompassing conditions such as autism, […]
Unveiling the Unspoken: Navigating Nonverbal Communication in the World of Autistic Adults
Introduction: The Silent Symphony of Human Interaction Imagine walking into a room full of people chatting animatedly, yet all the words seem scrambled, lost in a cacophony of silent gestures and facial expressions. For many autistic adults, this underlying layer of human interaction can feel like a perpetual puzzle. Nonverbal communication—those subtle eye movements, the […]
Navigating Emotions: How Online Training Transforms Lives of Autistic Adults
Introduction: Journey into the Heart of Emotion Imagine a world where interpreting a smile or deciphering a frown feels like reading hieroglyphics. For many autistic individuals, this is a daily reality. Emotions, subtle and oftentimes elusive, play a critical role in how we navigate social landscapes. They can act as bridges connecting us to others […]
Paving New Roads: A Driving Training Program for Autistic Student Drivers
## Introduction Imagine the sense of freedom and independence you felt when you first took the wheel of a car, navigating your surroundings with a newfound sense of autonomy. For many, learning to drive is a key milestone in achieving personal independence. Yet, for autistic individuals, this rite of passage can be fraught with unique […]
Video Games Unlocking Autism: Discovering Sensory Preferences with HaptiKart
Introduction Imagine stepping into a virtual world, where every curve taken by a digital car reveals layers of how our minds navigate reality. Welcome to the intriguing realm of “HaptiKart,” an engaging research tool disguised as a video game. Recently, researchers have leveraged this playful interface to delve into the nuanced sensory experiences of individuals […]
Understanding How Environment Shapes Our Minds: Insights from Kenya’s Coastal Regions
— Introduction Imagine a world where the conditions and environments we are born into not only shape our experiences but determine the trajectory of our mental development. This is not just the stuff of science fiction; rather, it’s a reality that resonates deeply, especially when exploring neurodevelopmental disorders, or NDDs, among children. These are conditions […]
Cracking the Genetic Code: The Role of SOX7 in Autism
## Unlocking the Mysteries of Autism Imagine this: you’re sitting in a café, sipping on your favorite latte, and the café is buzzing with life. For most of us, this scenario would be familiar and perhaps comforting. Now picture another scene where the same café feels overwhelming, every noise amplifies, and each scent reeks of […]
Living Without Faces: Understanding the Experience of Developmental Prosopagnosia
Introduction: A Mystery Behind Familiar Faces Imagine walking down the street and seeing faces you simply cannot recognize, even those belonging to your closest friends or family. It’s a perplexing challenge that those with developmental prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness, face daily. Despite having normal vision and cognitive abilities, people with this condition grapple […]
Creating an Inclusive World: Transforming Healthcare with Autistic Clinicians
Introduction: Bridging the Gap for Autistic Clinicians Imagine stepping into a world where you can play a critical role, yet the journey is laced with challenges that most others cannot see. This is the reality faced by many autistic clinical professionals who hold the power to revolutionize the very healthcare settings they work within. However, […]