Evidence-based support for autistic children.
I'm Dr Odet Mark Aszkenasy, a consultant paediatrician at Care ADHD. I was NHS Clinical Lead for autism diagnostics until September 2026. This site brings together research, practical guidance, and free resources for families and professionals who look after autistic children.
Research and longer reads
Coming up: Halloween: helping an autistic child with costumes, callers and sleep and Bonfire Night: helping an autistic child with fireworks and sleep.
Causes and genetics
My child has autism and ADHD: is that genetic?
Causes and genetics
My autistic child has a large head. Should I be worried?
Sleep
How long should my child stay on melatonin, and how do we stop?
Sleep
Getting melatonin on the NHS for an autistic child
Causes and genetics
MYT1L: one gene, many diagnoses
School and growing up
Melatonin for autistic children: the types, and what is in them
Research news
ADHD and mortality: reading a hazard ratio of 1.7
School and growing up
Half-term with an autistic child: keeping sleep and routine steady
Health care
Body dysmorphic disorder in autistic teenagers: more severe, still treatable
Research news
ADHD and suicide attempts: the genetics adds to the red flags, it does not replace them
Research news
Is autism a category or the far end of a spectrum?
School and growing up
University support for autistic students still waits for a diagnosis
Health care
Methylphenidate and the heart: what the absolute risk means
Causes and genetics
Genetic testing for autism and ADHD in the UK: what to expect
Sleep
Halloween: helping an autistic child with costumes, callers and sleep
Causes and genetics
Genome sequencing in developmental delay: what a new trial found
Eating and nutrition
Weight, appetite and autism or ADHD: what the research shows
Sleep
Bonfire Night: helping an autistic child with fireworks and sleep
Sleep
When the clocks go back: keeping an autistic child's sleep on track
Causes and genetics
Autism with ADHD, anxiety or depression: what the genes show
Causes and genetics
Congenital TORCH infection and autism: rare association, careful counselling
Behaviour and feelings
Autistic Burnout in Children and Young People: What It Looks Like and How to Prevent It
Research news
World Autism Awareness Day 2026: What the Science Actually Says
Causes and genetics
What the Gene Therapy Pipeline Actually Means for Autism
Eating and nutrition
Probiotics for GI Symptoms in Autism: What the Evidence Actually Shows
Causes and genetics
Why Is My Autistic Child's Head Larger? What Brain Organoids Tell Us About Macrocephaly and Autism
Behaviour and feelings
Headbanging and Self-Injury in Autistic Children: A Stepwise Approach
Behaviour and feelings
Pica in Autistic Children: Causes, Investigations, and What Actually Helps
Causes and genetics
Maternal Autoantibody-Related Autism: What We Know and What It Means
Health care
The Learning Disability Register: Why a Simple GP Letter Could Save Your Child's Life
Development
Making Sense of Sensory Processing: A Parent's Guide to Sensory Differences in Autism
Health care
Preparing Autistic Children for Medical Procedures: Why Picture Books Like Anna's Ultrasound Adventure Work
School and growing up
School Refusal in Autistic Children: The Iceberg Model and What Actually Helps
School and growing up
Supporting Your Autistic Child at School: What the Evidence Says
Eating and nutrition
Tummy Troubles in Autistic Children: A Practical Guide for Parents
Behaviour and feelings
Understanding Anxiety in Autistic Children: What Parents and Professionals Need to Know
Behaviour and feelings
When Behaviour Changes: A Clinical Checklist for Minimally Verbal Autistic Children
Development
Potty Training and Autism: Why It Takes Longer and What Actually Helps
Development
Why Isn't My Child Talking Yet? Understanding Language Development in Autistic Children
Causes and genetics
Same Science, Different Access: Why the UK and US Disagree on Genetic Testing for Autism
Research news
Research Round-Up: March 2026 - From Molecular Mechanisms to the Continuing Wait for Assessment
Causes and genetics
Same Switches, Different Conditions: 683 Genetic Variants That Connect Autism, ADHD, and Six Other Psychiatric Disorders
Causes and genetics
Why Does My Autistic Child Always Have Stomach Problems? A Genetic Contributing Factor
Causes and genetics
A Shared Druggable Switch: How Nitric Oxide, TSC2, and mTOR Connect Multiple Forms of Autism
Sleep
The Sleep Connection: How a Circadian Clock Gene Links Sleep Biology to Autism
Causes and genetics
Our Diagnoses Are Categories. Our Genes Are Not.
School and growing up
The Cliff Edge at 18: Why Autistic Young People Are Falling Through the Transition Gap
Research news
The Largest Leucovorin-Autism Trial To-Date Has Been Retracted: What This Means for Families and Clinicians
Behaviour and feelings
Understanding Demand Avoidance in Autism: What the Research Really Tells Us
Health care
Clinic visits and blood tests
Eating and nutrition
Nutritional Issues in Autistic Children: A Practical Guide for Parents and Paediatricians
Research news
Leucovorin in autism
Sleep
Sleep Struggles in Autism: Unlocking the Science for Better Nights
School and growing up
Half-term with an autistic child: keeping sleep and routine steady
Read article
Health care
Body dysmorphic disorder in autistic teenagers: more severe, still treatable
Read article
Research news
ADHD and suicide attempts: the genetics adds to the red flags, it does not replace them
Read article
School and growing up
University support for autistic students still waits for a diagnosis
Read article
Causes and genetics
Congenital TORCH infection and autism: rare association, careful counselling
Read article
Behaviour and feelings
Autistic Burnout in Children and Young People: What It Looks Like and How to Prevent It
Read article
Eating and nutrition
Probiotics for GI Symptoms in Autism: What the Evidence Actually Shows
Read article
Causes and genetics
Why Is My Autistic Child's Head Larger? What Brain Organoids Tell Us About Macrocephaly and Autism
Read article
Behaviour and feelings
Headbanging and Self-Injury in Autistic Children: A Stepwise Approach
Read article
Behaviour and feelings
Pica in Autistic Children: Causes, Investigations, and What Actually Helps
Read article
Causes and genetics
Maternal Autoantibody-Related Autism: What We Know and What It Means
Read article
Health care
The Learning Disability Register: Why a Simple GP Letter Could Save Your Child's Life
Read article
Development
Making Sense of Sensory Processing: A Parent's Guide to Sensory Differences in Autism
Read article
School and growing up
School Refusal in Autistic Children: The Iceberg Model and What Actually Helps
Read article
Eating and nutrition
Tummy Troubles in Autistic Children: A Practical Guide for Parents
Read article
Behaviour and feelings
Understanding Anxiety in Autistic Children: What Parents and Professionals Need to Know
Read article
Behaviour and feelings
When Behaviour Changes: A Clinical Checklist for Minimally Verbal Autistic Children
Read article
Development
Why Isn't My Child Talking Yet? Understanding Language Development in Autistic Children
Read article
Causes and genetics
Same Science, Different Access: Why the UK and US Disagree on Genetic Testing for Autism
Read article
Research news
Research Round-Up: March 2026 - From Molecular Mechanisms to the Continuing Wait for Assessment
Read article
Causes and genetics
Same Switches, Different Conditions: 683 Genetic Variants That Connect Autism, ADHD, and Six Other Psychiatric Disorders
Read article
Causes and genetics
Why Does My Autistic Child Always Have Stomach Problems? A Genetic Contributing Factor
Read article
Causes and genetics
A Shared Druggable Switch: How Nitric Oxide, TSC2, and mTOR Connect Multiple Forms of Autism
Read article
School and growing up
The Cliff Edge at 18: Why Autistic Young People Are Falling Through the Transition Gap
Read article
Research news
The Largest Leucovorin-Autism Trial To-Date Has Been Retracted: What This Means for Families and Clinicians
Read article
Behaviour and feelings
Understanding Demand Avoidance in Autism: What the Research Really Tells Us
Read article
Eating and nutrition
Nutritional Issues in Autistic Children: A Practical Guide for Parents and Paediatricians
Read article
Featured guide
The Genetics of Autism
Information for Parents and Professionals
What genetic testing can and cannot find, how to read the results, and what they mean for brothers and sisters. For parents and professionals.