When Clumsiness Isn’t a Phase: What Parents Reveal About a Hidden Childhood Disability
“Clumsy” Isn’t Harmless: The Human Cost of a Hidden Diagnosis Many children are labeled “clumsy,” “messy,” or “uncoordinated,” and the assumption is that they’ll grow out of it. But for a significant group—about 5–6%—those motor challenges point to Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), a neurodevelopmental condition that shapes school, friendships, self-esteem, and family life. The research […]
Where We Look Shapes What We See: How Fixation Patterns Drive Face Processing in Autism
Why Eye Contact Feels Different—and What Fixations Reveal Eye contact is a social shortcut. With a glance, we gauge interest, trust, and intent. But for many autistic people, those few seconds can feel complicated—less like a shortcut and more like a traffic jam. A new research paper, Pattern of fixation explains atypical eye processing during […]
Three Quick Clues, One Big Decision: How Screening Tools Can Speed Up Adult Autism Assessments
When a Diagnosis Takes Years, Smart Triage Can Save Months Many adults wait months—or years—for a formal autism assessment, all while living with uncertainty, limited support, and stress in work and relationships. Clinics are overwhelmed by rising referrals, and clinicians must balance thoroughness with the reality of long queues. A new research paper, Investigating the […]
Parents on the Front Line of the SEND System: What Helps, What Hurts, and What Changes Lives
When Getting Help Becomes a Full-Time Job for Parents For many families in England, getting support for a child with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) feels less like a service and more like a battle. The stakes are high: the right help can unlock learning, protect a child’s mental health, and make family life […]
From Coaching to Connection: How a Hong Kong Parent Program Transformed Caregivers and Relationships
When Helping Turns Into Connecting: Why This Study Matters Autism support often focuses on a child’s behavior—more words, fewer meltdowns, better eye contact. But behind every goal sheet is a parent trying to make daily life calmer and more connected. The research paper Caregiver transformation and relational growth in a parent-mediated intervention for autism in […]
Screens That Calm, Screens That Worry: What Parents of Autistic Children Say About Digital Media
Screens as Soothers and Stressors: What Parents of Autistic Children Are Telling Us Digital devices are now woven into childhood—part reward, part tool, part escape hatch. For families raising children on the autism spectrum, screens can be a lifeline for calming, communication, and structure. They can also be a source of late-night battles, skipped meals, […]
When School Becomes a Battle: How Children’s Non-Attendance Reverberates Through Parents’ Minds and Homes
When School Stops, Life Doesn’t: The Hidden Toll on UK Parents Every school day missed by a child sends a ripple through family life. For many UK parents, those ripples turn into waves that are hard to manage. The research paper Exploring the experiences of having a child who regularly does not attend school on […]
When Movement Meets Focus What Brain Signals Reveal About Attention and Repetitive Behaviors
Why Small Repetitive Movements Could Matter for Big Moments of Focus What helps you lock onto the right thing at the right time? In daily life, this might look like quickly noticing a friend waving across a busy café or catching a hazard in traffic just in time. Psychologists call this ability spatial attention—shifting your […]
Brains, Noise, and the Hidden Cost of Conversation for Neurodivergent People
When Hearing Isn’t the Problem but Listening Still Hurts Most of us take for granted the ability to follow a friend’s voice at a busy restaurant or catch a colleague’s comment during a lively meeting. Yet for many neurodivergent people—those with conditions like autism or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder—these moments are exhausting, frustrating, and sometimes […]
Parents on the Frontline of Autism and Mental Health in the UK
When the Helpers Need Help Too Across the United Kingdom, many autistic children experience anxiety, depression, and distress that can spill into daily life—sleep struggles, school refusal, panic, meltdowns, self-injury, or shutdowns. In those moments, parents become the first responders. The research paper “Constantly overwhelmed and desperate for help”: Parents’ experiences of supporting their autistic […]