Brief Report: Relationships Between Caregiver-Reported Behaviors and the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers
In 2024, Duke autism researcher Jane Marryat and team compared toddlers’ scores on the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (MCHAT), which is used to screen for autism in young children, with another measure of behavioral and emotional concerns. Findings suggest that high scores on an MCHAT autism screening may indicate other behavioral concerns such as ADHD that should alert clinicians and families to additional support needs for young children.
Employee Spotlight: David Akinsooto
David Akinsooto has been with the Autism Center since 2023 and has been an essential member of the COMET and HERO study teams, as well as the broader center. Originally from Pittstown New Jersey, David is the middle child, with two autistic siblings. Growing up, he always wanted to understand what made him and his siblings so different. So, when he attended Swarthmore College in 2019, he double majored in Neuroscience and Economics.
2024 Autism Center Impact Report Now Available
The Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development’s 2024 Impact Report is out now! Read how our research, clinical services, education, and community partnerships have made a positive impact for the autism community here in Durham and around the world!
Where Are They Now?
Ten years after the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development was founded, our trainees have gone on to careers in research, clinical practice, and academic leadership. We caught up with three former trainees to learn more about how their experience at Duke prepared them to make an impact in the field.
How is Machine Learning Helping Us Understand the Brain?
You may be familiar with the saying, “If you’ve met one autistic person, you’ve met one autistic person”. In a clinical and research context, while we know a lot about how different autistic children present, this knowledge doesn’t always help us identify which groups of children may respond differently to specific supports and intervention approaches. Even experienced clinicians have a limited number of interventions to fit all these unique children.
HERO Study Untangles Autism, ADHD, and Anxiety with New Diagnostic Tool
Now in its fourth year, the ongoing Autism HERO study aims to better understand the co-occurrence of ADHD and anxiety in young autistic children. Led by Kimberly Carpenter, PhD, the research team continues to focus on recruitment and assessment, as well as refining their data analysis plans. They have begun sharing early findings by submitting abstracts to national and international conferences planned for 2025.
Adapting an Early Autism Caregiver Coaching Intervention for Telehealth Delivery in Low-Resource Settings
A joint team from Duke and the University of Cape Town working with caregivers of autistic children in South Africa moved in-person caregiver coaching sessions to a low-cost platform because of COVID-19 restrictions.
The Early Start Denver Model in the Duke Autism Clinic
The Duke Autism Clinic has offered assessment and therapy services to families for over 10 years. The clinic serves many young children whose families are seeking diagnostic evaluation and therapy.
Why 40 Hours of Therapy Isn't Always Better: Dr. Geraldine Dawson on Neuro Chat with AG
Dr. Geraldine Dawson challenges the "40 hours of therapy" approach and shares groundbreaking insights about the effectiveness of autism intervention on the YouTube show Neuro Chat with AG.
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrHW003xNag
US Congress Passes Autism CARES Act of 2024
We at the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development applaud the US House of Representatives passing the Autism CARES Act of 2024.
This important legislation will reauthorize and expand critical services and support research initiatives that benefit the autism community, including the NIH Autism Centers of Excellence program. The bill now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.