The Transmitter stories

When autistic kids grow up

An autistic researcher’s paper called attention to a huge disparity in autism funding research between children and adults. It nearly derailed her life.

'Emergent and transactional': How Jonathan Green is rethinking autism and interventions

Jonathan Green is professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom and an honorary consultant child and adolescent psych

The story of autism research in Australia: A conversation with Cheryl Dissanayake

Cheryl Dissanayake is a professor at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia, and the Olga Tennison Endowed Chair in Autism Research at the Olga Tennison Autism Resea

New journals seek to fill neurodiversity gap

The two journals, although differing in initial support, both realized the need for a publication focused exclusively on the neurodiverse experience.

Writing a 'new history of autism'

Spectrum talks with David Dobbs about researching his latest article, and what he found.

What it's like to be a Black autism researcher

Spectrum spoke to four Black autism researchers about what it’s like to be in a field that’s overwhelmingly white, how police violence against Black people has affected t

Spectrum stories: Life in lockdown with autism

Host Chelsey B. Coombs talks to clinicians and people with autism about their experience of the pandemic, how their routines have changed and some of the unexpected benef

Spectrum Stories: What social touch says about autism

Understanding how touch is altered in autism could yield an early marker of the condition.

Spectrum Stories: How social media aids discovery and diagnosis of autism-linked conditions

Social media is connecting families with researchers who study rare conditions related to autism — to the benefit of both.

Spectrum Stories: The benefits of genetic testing in autism

Finding a mutation linked to autism traits can have life-changing consequences for autistic individuals and their families.

Spectrum Stories: Tapping intelligence in minimally verbal people with autism

Scientists are finding new ways to test cognition in autistic individuals who speak little or not at all.

Spectrum Stories: Seeing through an autistic person's eyes

Virtual reality can help typical people experience sensory hypersensitivity and other perceptual differences that autistic individuals describe. Host Ben Kuebrich reports

Spectrum Stories: Resetting the autistic brain

Deep brain stimulation is not an approved treatment for autism but has helped some people with extreme obsessions and other severe traits. Host Ben Kuebrich investigates

Spectrum Stories: Understanding autism's suicide risk

Suicidal thoughts appear to be more common in autistic people but they’re also more difficult to detect. Host Ben Kuebrich reports.

Spectrum Stories: Gaming autism treatments

Researchers are designing video games to hone visual-attention skills in children with autism. New host Ben Kuebrich explores.

Spectrum Stories: Autism, in a manner of speaking

In this episode of “Spectrum Stories,” host Jacob Brogan explains how speech — from its rhythm to its emotional content — can differ in people with autism, making social

Spectrum Stories: Talking about autism mouse models

Scientists discuss the problems with using mice to study autism, and explain how the field might move forward.

Spectrum Stories: Camouflaging autism traits

In this episode, host Jacob Brogan explores how and why some women try to hide their autism. There are benefits to keeping the condition concealed, but this camouflaging

Spectrum Stories: Shifting cultural views about autism abroad

In this episode, host Jacob Brogan talks to autism researchers and families with children on the spectrum in France and Ethiopia. However different the two countries may

Spectrum Stories: Where autism meets sleeplessness

Scientists are trying to understand why people with autism so often have trouble sleeping, and how to help them.