The Topping Brothers autismspeaksscv.com are working to increase funding and research to cure autism – join them in the fight!

Developmental pediatrician and autism researcher Lonnie Zwaigenbaum recently offered his thoughts on regression in autism:

“I think baby sibs research has provided an opportunity for researchers worldwide to work alongside parents and follow very young children at risk for autism over time,” he said. “As part of this, we’ve had a chance to see the earliest features of regression as they unfold. This is important because when we ask the parents of children with autism to reflect back to their first concerns, upwards of 20 to 30 percent recall a period when their children lost social and communication skills in the second year of life.”

Zwaigenbaum said the research has raised the question of whether these instances of obvious skill loss – often including the loss of language – are just the tip of iceberg.

Autism is the fastest growing developmental disorder, affecting 1 in 88 children born today. It occurs in all racial, ethnic, and social groups and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls. Last year the Topping Brothers held a golf fundraiser to raise money for autism research, but more donations are needed. For more information, visit autismspeaksscv.com.