Latest news with #Autism
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Increasing screen-time crisis among children can rise ‘Virtual Autism' alarms: Neurologists
By Vishal Kumar Singh New Delhi: India is witnessing a disturbing rise in autism-like symptoms among children aged 2 to 9 not due to genetics, but linked to excessive screen exposure. Neurologists have termed this emerging condition "virtual autism" , warning that overuse of digital devices is rewiring young brains and fueling a hidden epidemic. Leading experts are now calling for urgent national action and greater public awareness to combat this growing crisis, a call that gains even more urgency as the world marks World Brain Day 2025 . 'We're seeing a wave of screen-induced behavioral disorders almost like a second pandemic,' says Dr. Shobha N, Consultant Neurologist & Stroke Physician at Manipal Hospital, Malleshwaram. 'The red flags are clear: shortened attention spans, tantrums, lack of social skills, and emotional dysregulation.' A Tamil Nadu-based study revealed that 73 per cent of children under five far exceed the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended screen time of one hour daily, averaging 2.4 hours. This overuse has been associated with a 53-fold increase in the risk of developmental delays. In urban India, ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is being seen in 11 per cent of school-aged children, and autism spectrum symptoms in up to 3 per cent, that's potentially 18 million children. Autism or Just Digital Overload? The biggest diagnostic challenge today: Is it real autism, or screen-induced symptoms that mimic it? 'True autism is neurodevelopmental, appears early, and is lifelong,' explains Dr. (Col) Joy Dev Mukherji, Vice Chairman & Head of Neurology, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket. 'It persists regardless of screen time. But in 'virtual autism,' symptoms often emerge after prolonged screen exposure and can fade once screen use is cut down.' Dr. Karthik Raju Iyer, Consultant Neurosurgeon at Altius Hospital, says the difference isn't always obvious: 'We need detailed history, behavior mapping, and tools like the ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition) test to distinguish the two. The good news? Many kids improve dramatically with reduced screen time and guided therapy.' Modern urban lifestyles are part of the problem. With working parents, nuclear households, and digital babysitters, children are spending more time with screens than people. 'In joint families, grandparents played a vital role in nurturing children. That's missing now. Today's role models are screen heroes, not real people," says Dr Shobha. Dr. Mukherji has observed rising emotional distress in kids such as anxiety, frustration, social withdrawal, all worsened by digital overexposure. Dr. Iyer adds, 'In any urban restaurant, you'll see toddlers glued to tablets instead of talking or playing. These lost interactions are what build developing brains.' "Despite growing evidence, awareness remains shockingly low as parents often believe they're giving their child a head-start through 'educational' content, "In reality, screens are contributing to speech delays, poor attention spans, and emotional imbalances especially in younger children," says Dr. Iyer. "The pandemic only intensified the problem, with digital schooling and lockdown isolation increasing screen dependency. 'Virtual autism is not genetic, it's environmental and in many cases, reversible,' Dr. Mukherji stresses. India's healthcare and education systems aren't equipped to handle the fallout. Dr. Mukherji notes that 12 per cent of children aged 2–9 have some form of developmental disorder but early detection is rare, especially in rural India where specialists are scarce and stigma is high. "Schools, too, are lagging, most of them still focus on rote learning and don't accommodate neurodivergent learners. Our classrooms aren't built for these kids especially outside metro cities," says Dr. Mukherji. Parents often face the emotional toll alone. 'There's confusion, guilt, stigma and not enough support,' Dr. Iyer adds. Dr. Mukherji warns that up to 60 per cent of new autism-like cases may be linked to screen overuse. She urges India to implement clear national guidelines, similar to WHO's viz zero screen time for children under 2 and no more than one hour a day for kids under five. Dr. Iyer suggests using India's existing ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) and ICDS (Integrated Child Development scheme) systems for early detection and outreach. 'We don't need to reinvent the wheel. We just need the will. 'Parents, teachers, and health workers must act as the frontline. We can't afford half-measures anymore." As India reflects on brain health this World Brain Day, neurologists unanimously inform that too much screen time is rewiring children's brains permanently, if we don't act. But there's hope. Virtual autism can be reversed, if caught early, and treated with connection over convenience.
Hindustan Times
18-07-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
BSV brings performing arts therapy to children with special needs
: Bhatkhande Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya (BSV) is set to begin music and dance therapy courses for children with disabilities through a new partnership with The Hope Foundation. The programme will support children with Autism, ADHD, and Intellectual Disabilities by offering specialised training in music and movement. The university and the foundation may set up a National Resource Centre for Art-Based Neuro Therapy (For representation only) As part of the collaboration, short-term certificate courses will be introduced. These will focus on rhythm, vocal expression, dance, expressions, and group performance. University students will also get a chance to take up internships to support therapy sessions. The partnership will also explore research opportunities in areas such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and neuro-musical techniques, using case studies and documentation. In future, the university and the foundation may set up a National Resource Centre for Art-Based Neuro Therapy, which could help create self-employment opportunities in performing arts for children with special needs. 'These courses will help empower children with disabilities by offering them career options and supporting their intellectual growth,' said BSV Vice Chancellor prof Mandavi Singh.
Cision Canada
11-07-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Walmart Canada sparks opportunities for homegrown businesses at inaugural Canada Growth Summit Français
Walmart Canada Growth Summit attracted entrepreneurs and businesses from coast-to-coast with more than 50 "golden tickets" awarded to Canadian businesses MISSISSAUGA, ON, July 11, 2025 /CNW/ - This week, 120 local Canadian entrepreneurs and businesses from across the country flocked to Walmart Canada's head office for the chance to pitch their products directly to the retailer at the inaugural Walmart Canada Growth Summit. Entrepreneurs and business owners from nearly every province showcased a diverse range of products, reflecting the creativity and ingenuity of Canadian businesses. More than 50 entrepreneurs were presented with "golden tickets" representing a deal. "We're honoured to have hosted 120 incredible Canadian entrepreneurs, innovators and creators at our first Canada Growth Summit this week," said Venessa Yates, president and CEO, Walmart Canada. "These individuals and businesses represent the best of what Canada has to offer—diverse perspectives, bold ideas, and a deep sense of purpose. To Canadian suppliers, this inaugural Summit is our way of saying – we see you, we believe in what you're building, and we want to grow with you." "Products dreamed up and brought to life by local entrepreneurs and businesses began their path to our shelves and online this week following our first Walmart Canada Growth Summit. We're excited to see these items in Canadians' shopping baskets shortly," said Sam Wankowski, chief merchandising officer, Walmart Canada. "Entrepreneurship is at the core of Walmart – and our focus on working with, developing and growing alongside small, local businesses is one of the reasons we're thriving today. We like to think small so we can do big things together – one partner, one store, one item and one customer at a time." "Attending the first Walmart Canada Growth Summit was nothing short of surreal. As a single mom of a child on the Autism spectrum, teacher, and founder of a "small" brand with a big mission, it was incredibly emotional to stand in that room and share our emotional story. I created Creative Beginning to support my son — and now, thanks to Walmart, our inclusive, sensory friendly and educator-backed tools have the opportunity to reach families and children across the country - of ALL needs and abilities," said Christina Collura, Founder of Creative Beginning Inc. - Chalkboard Based Puzzles. "Receiving a golden ticket isn't just a win for our business — it's a life-changing moment for our family and for every child who's ever felt unseen or unsupported. Walmart Canada's belief in small, purpose-driven brands like ours shows they're not just making space on the shelf — they're making space for impact." Walmart Canada's Growth Summit featured keynotes from Walmart Canada executives, supplier development workshops and more than 55 hours' worth of one-on-one pitch meetings with more than 50 Walmart merchants, all designed to support supplier success and help unlock growth opportunities from coast-to-coast. Attendees had a chance to hear from Montreal-based supplier Jake Karls from Mid Day Squares in conversation with Sam Wankowski, Walmart Canada's chief merchandising officer. "As a Walmart Canada supplier, I can tell you firsthand how meaningful this kind of opportunity is," said Jake Karls, co-founder of Mid-Day Squares. "At yesterday's first-ever Canada Growth Summit, 120 suppliers got the chance to pitch their products directly to Walmart merchants, an experience that can truly shift the trajectory of a business. Whether they're starting in four stores or 400, in-store or online, the potential for growth is real. And with the right support, that momentum can help take a business to the next level. Just like it did for us at Mid-Day Squares." "Walmart Canada's Growth Summit is exactly what we need right now: a chance for Canadian businesses to grow, compete, and put more homegrown products on store shelves," said Hon. Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario. "By working together, we're protecting good Ontario jobs, creating bigger paycheques, and building a stronger, more self-reliant economy." "We're continuing to grow in Canada, and our newest suppliers from the Canada Growth Summit are going to grow alongside us – whether they appear on our digital or physical shelves," said Joseph Godsey, SVP, chief growth officer, Walmart Canada. "As an omnichannel retailer, our goal is to make it easy for our customers to find what they need, when they need it – no matter how they choose to shop with us. This is just the start of our future together – and it's bright." Walmart Canada's first Growth Summit is part of Walmart's global Growth Summit series, following similar events in the United States, Chile, India, Mexico and Africa. Since 1994, Walmart Canada has worked with local suppliers, purchasing billions of dollars' worth of goods from Canadian suppliers. More than 10,000 locally-made products are available in-store and online today. About Walmart Canada Walmart Canada is a people-led, tech-powered omnichannel retailer of more than 400 stores nationwide serving 1.5 million customers each day. Walmart Canada's flagship online store, is visited by more than 1.5 million customers daily. With more than 100,000 associates, Walmart Canada is one of Canada's largest employers and is ranked one of the country's top 10 most influential brands. Walmart Canada's extensive philanthropy program is focused on supporting Canadian families in need, and since 1994 Walmart Canada has raised and donated more than $850 million to Canadian charities. Additional information can be found at and on Walmart Canada's social media pages – Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn.
USA Today
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
'Real Housewives' star Tamra Judge addresses backlash over Autism claim
"Real Housewives of Orange County" star Tamra Judge is addressing her past claim that she had Autism during the Season 19 premiere of the Bravo reality show. On the July 10 episode, the former Cut Fitness owner, 57, was shown in an emotional therapy session, and talked through tears about how the backlash to her claim affected her. "My sensory issues are heightened, my intrusive thoughts are out of control right now," Judge said to her therapist. Judge revealed how she had "been crying" about the backlash to the podcast episode. She explained that "when (my therapist) mentioned (the Autism spectrum) to me, I had gone home and went on my podcast. And I misspoke, I shouldn't have said anything." She told her therapist that "I just got annihilated, publicly annihilated." Teddi Mellencamp cancer update: Reality star talks treatment, long road to recovery Judge is the longest running "Real Housewives" star, first joining the "Orange County" edition for its third season in 2008, and has starred in the series for 15 seasons, except for a two-season hiatus from 2022 to 2023. In October 2024, Judge sparked backlash in a now-deleted Instagram clip from her podcast "Two Ts In A Pod", after she told her cohost Teddi Mellencamp, "I just did my first therapy session … I am on the spectrum." "On the spectrum" is a phrase that refers to someone with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Mayo Clinic defines ASD as "a condition related to brain development that affects how people see others and socialize with them." Based off the premiere episode, Judge has yet to receive a formal diagnosis, but fans felt she was attempting to make the claim as an excuse for her behavior towards costars on Season 18 of the series. A post shared by Tamra Judge (@tamrajudge) In a confessional, Judge added that the criticism "was really hurtful," and "people think that I don't have feelings, and it's not true. I'm tired of being called a horrible human being because I'm not." 'Real Housewives' star Teddi Mellencamp has stage 4 melanoma. What's next? "I realized that you have to dig up those things that are buried deep inside of you, because those are the things that come out when you get angry," Judge said, adding that it is due to "just talking about stuff that I don't want to talk about." Judge revealed that her estrangement from eldest daughter Sidney, her own father's absence and her past heavily publicized custody battle with ex-husband Simon Barney as reasons behind her sadness. A post shared by Watch What Happens Live! (@bravowwhl) When asked by "Housewives" executive producer Andy Cohen on his post-"RHOC" talk show "Watch What Happens Live" if she was still in therapy, Judge said that "it's a process" and confirmed that she is still seeing her provider. Cohen then asked Judge about her anger issues and her husband Eddie Judge jokingly whispered, "still there." This season of "RHOC" (Thursdays, 9 ET/PT) also features Katie Ginella, Emily Simpson, Gina Kirschenheiter, Heather Dubrow, Jennifer Pedranti, Shannon Storms Beador and the return of Judge rival Gretchen Rossi as a friend of the cast.
Int'l Business Times
10-07-2025
- Health
- Int'l Business Times
A Lost Generation: Anne Delery McWhorter on Long COVID and Its Connection to High-Level Intelligence
Emerging research suggests that Long COVID may exacerbate neurological symptoms in individuals with pre-existing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This connection that intertwines immune dysfunction, neurological symptoms, and genetic predispositions has profound implications for how treatment, access, and advocacy are addressed. Anne Delery McWhorter is one of the few sounding the alarm. As the founder of Quiet Calm, LLC, a company dedicated to developing sensory solutions for individuals with invisible disabilities, McWhorter has always been an advocate for neurodivergent individuals with understanding the constantly evolving genetic links between high intelligence, rare genetic mutations, and how these formerly known as "rare genetic conditions" are disproportionately linked to those battling the life-altering consequences of Long COVID. A former software engineer, geophysicist and sedimentologist, physics lecturer, technical writer, and lobbyist, she brings a multidimensional perspective. McWhorter was nominated for the congressionally mandated presidentially appointed steering committee by the United States Department of Health and Human Services to direct policy and resources on Long COVID. Her resume includes high-level contributions to disaster relief efforts and public health initiatives, notably through her work with the American Red Cross and FEMA. Through her work, she has supported 1.7 million families living with Autism globally and 90,000 families living or surviving domestic violence in the United States. McWhorter's efforts to deliver and educate communities on the use of sensory therapy interventions during natural disasters set a precedent for how neurodivergent needs can and must be integrated into crisis response models. It's worth noting that McWhorter's professional and personal journeys are interwoven with the issues she champions. Self-identifying as neurodivergent and formally diagnosed with autism through genetic testing, she's open about having an IQ score in the top 0.1% of the population. Her early academic trajectory and later professional achievements reflect this. By age 20, while pursuing her undergraduate degree, McWhorter led the Louisiana State University physics tutorial lab, participated in what would later become a Nobel prize-winning particle collider project, and transitioned seamlessly from academia into high-stakes roles in energy, advocacy, and healthcare systems. During this time, she was also the student head of an international geology project under the world-renowned geologist, Dr. Arnold H. Bouma. All of this unfolded while navigating a rare genetic immune deficiency. Because the deficiency was not diagnosed, she was unaware that she had children, and her son was born with the same condition. This incurable condition requires them to undergo monthly antibody infusions derived from tens of thousands of plasma donors, simply to maintain a functioning immune system. Her path, then, isn't just one of advocacy. It's survival. It's hardly surprising that COVID-19 changed McWhorter's health forever. "After contracting the virus, I experienced brain lesions, temporary loss of speech, novel blood clots, loss of swallowing, and debilitating neurological symptoms," McWhorter shares. "They're so severe that creating a grocery list was impossible for me." Eventually, her own pursuit of experimental treatments helped restore higher-level cognitive functions. However, her infection continued to come at a cost. McWhorter's body's thermoregulation failed, a side effect linked to the hypothalamus, meaning that even mild overheating can now trigger a full-blown crisis. "I still have to constantly self-regulate my environment to stay alive and functional," McWhorter states. She had to do whatever was needed to push forward with research, speaking engagements, and policy work. This lived experience makes her one of the most important figures speaking on the overlap between Long COVID and neurodivergence. Previously, very rare genetic conditions are no longer considered rare, and are forever linked to neurodivergence and Long COVID. "Very rare diseases," such as Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, are now so well known that they commonly appear on social media. Knowing these implications are staggering for the long-term response and dedication of resources, nationally and internationally, she aims to share her insights regarding the matter. Emerging studies now confirm what McWhorter began observing years ago. People with autism and those with other neurodivergent conditions like ADHD are disproportionately affected by Long COVID. The symptoms in neurodivergent individuals tend to be more severe, more persistent, and more difficult to treat. Researchers suggest this may be due to shared factors such as immune dysregulation, baseline inflammation, and complex neurological and developmental profiles, which are traits already prevalent among individuals with autism. McWhorter also points to the correlation between higher IQ and increased likelihood of autistic traits. "These same genetic and neurological profiles that drive exceptional intelligence increase vulnerability to Long COVID," she states. "If we lose this segment of the population, we're decimating our future inventors, scientists, engineers, artists, the people who solve problems others can't. And I'm not exaggerating. It's economics." McWhorter is a systems thinker who has learned from years of legislative work that ethical arguments, while valid, rarely move policy on their own. What moves policy is return on investment. "Failing to treat and accommodate neurodivergent individuals with Long COVID is both immoral and economically disastrous for all of humanity," she adds. The conversation becomes even more urgent. Recent proposals to cut insurance reimbursements for certain medical treatments that represent some of the most promising interventions for both Long COVID and autism could have catastrophic ripple effects. "I've done the math. Of the 17 services listed in the proposed national cuts, at least five are currently among the best available treatments for a variety of different conditions that disproportionately affect neurodivergent individuals and Long COVID," McWhorter states. McWhorter stresses how devastating this is. "We're not talking about discomfort," she says. "We're talking about whether someone can swallow food, regulate pain, or even remain conscious throughout the day." She goes further to argue that cuts to these treatments could set back public health by decades and lead to long-term economic stagnation. "A society that fails to support its most vulnerable is a society that fails everyone," she remarks. Currently, the average waiting list to see a specialist is about 2-3 years, and an average Long COVID patient needs to see 8-9 separate specialists, and then even then, the interventions between patients are still within the same 5-7 protocols. In this case, what's the solution? McWhorter proposes fast-tracking training programs designed specifically to treat Long COVID. "I'm not suggesting a full medical school overhaul," she clarifies. "I'm talking about targeted certification programs that can rapidly produce specialists who understand how to treat these complex cases." These programs would be autism-informed, neurodiversity-competent, and medically rigorous. McWhorter argues that funding for such programs would pay for itself within 6 months to a year by reducing disability rates, restoring people to the workforce, and enabling the very innovation the world depends on. McWhorter shares a message of warning and hope: "We have the opportunity right now to lead the world in treating Long COVID. If we act fast, we can save lives and build a healthier, more resilient population. If we don't, we risk losing an entire generation and the brilliance that comes with it." Within this lost generation, the potential to affect another generation is there as Anne will continue to fight not just for herself, but for her genius-level, academically brilliant, immunodeficient, neurodivergent son. "All that I do, all that I have done, is for my son."
