National Autism Researcher Brings New Ideas to Iowa

By Mark Geary, Reporter

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By Mark Geary

Story Created: Apr 26, 2007 at 8:23 PM CST

Story Updated: Apr 28, 2007 at 4:17 PM CST

IOWA CITY -- A national autism expert is using Iowans to help understand the disorder.

Autism affects hundreds of thousands of people all over the world.

Shannon Parker recently noticed her three-year-old son, Carter, was a little different from other kids.

"He would touch the wall for forty-five minutes in a circle, doing the same patterns, flapping his hands. We'd say his name eight or nine times, and he'd act like he didn't hear us. He was in his own world," Parker said.

Six weeks ago, doctors told her Carter has autism. Now, Shannon spends much of her time looking for ways to help her son overcome the disorder.

"He requires more attention because when he wants something, he wants it right now. Not five seconds from now. And, if he doesn't get it, it becomes a temper tantrum," she said.

The exact cause of autism remains up for debate. But, now one researcher is taking a new approach...by studying groups of genes that may cause certain symptoms of the condition.

"It's a much easier target focusing on simpler phenomena rather than the full-blown, complex clinical disorder," Dr. Molly Losh said.

Dr. Losh is studying parents' standardized test scores from kindergarten through fifth grade, and examining their strengths and weaknesses.

She then compares those results with the autistic traits found in the parents' children.

"What we're finding are not so much impairments at all, but just a profile of strengths and weaknesses that's very similar to what we see in autism, but just not impaired," Losh said.

A cure for autism may be years away, but Dr. Losh believes research like hers might lead to a major breakthrough that could help people like the Parkers.

Friday evening, Dr. Losh will speak at a special dinner for parents of autistic children. She'll explain more about her research and answer questions.

It's a free event. If you’d like to attend, call 319-341-0060 to RSVP. You can call anytime before the event begins. The “Autism Awareness Month Science and Spaghetti Dinner” goes from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 27, 2007. The Mayor’s Youth Empowerment Program will host the event at 1060 Cross Park Avenue.

E-mail Mark Geary at Mark.Geary@kcrg.com

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