The first rigorous trial of a pre-emptive behavioural intervention for babies showing early signs of autism has found the therapy can improve early language development. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• News & Events
• News & Events at Telethon Kids
• 2019
• July

Western Australian babies and children with autism and developmental delay will be able to access world-first therapies and interventions backed by the latest research, thanks a unique clinical service developed by the Telethon Kids Institute. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• News & Events
• News & Events at Telethon Kids
• 2019
• October

Australia’s first draft national guideline for autism diagnosis has today been released for public consultation. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• News & Events
• News & Events at Telethon Kids
• 2017
• September

Professor Andrew Whitehouse awarded the most prestigious award in the country for young researchers – the 3M Eureka Prize for Emerging Leader in Science. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• News & Events
• News & Events at Telethon Kids
• 2017
• August

A new study led by the Telethon Kids Institute has found a link between masculine facial features and autism. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• News & Events
• News & Events at Telethon Kids
• 2017
• August

New research from the Telethon Institute has shown that children with an intellectual disability are up to 10x more likely to be admitted to hospital. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• News & Events
• News & Events at Telethon Kids
• 2013
• March

Clinical decision support systems (CDSS) are increasingly utilised within healthcare settings to enhance decision making. However, few studies have investigated their application in the context of clinical services for autistic people, with no research to date exploring the perspectives of the key stakeholders who are, or in the future may be, impacted by their use. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2024
• July 2024

The heterogeneity of autism spectrum disorder clinically and aetiologically hinders intervention matching and prediction of outcomes. This study investigated if the behavioural, sensory, and perinatal factor profiles of autistic children could be used to identify distinct subgroups. Participants on the autism spectrum aged 2 to 17 years and their families were sourced via the Australian Autism Biobank. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2024
• June 2024

Individuals exhibiting pronounced autistic traits (e.g., social differences and specialised interests) may struggle with cognitive empathy (i.e., the ability to infer others' emotions), although the relationship with affective empathy (i.e., the ability to share others' emotions) is less clear in that higher levels of autistic traits may be linked with increased affective empathy for negative emotions but reduced affective empathy for positive emotions. The current study investigates this empathy profile and whether alexithymia and emotion dysregulation help to explain it. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2024
• February 2024

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly prescribed to manage anxiety in adults with an autism diagnosis. However, their effectiveness and adverse effect profile in the autistic population are not well known. This trial aims to determine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the SSRI sertraline in reducing symptoms of anxiety and improving quality of life in adults with a diagnosis of autism compared with placebo and to quantify any adverse effects.  ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2024
• January 2024