Original version

BBC World Service Online

Health Check

Factual: Health & Wellbeing

Factual: Science & Nature: Science & Technology

Health issues and medical breakthroughs from around the world.

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

BBC World Service South Asia

Health Check: Autism: the problems of fitting in

Magazines & Reviews

A young woman standing in the middle of a crowded street

2019/07/31 GMT

Autism: the problems of fitting in

BBC World Service - Health Check, Autism: the problems of fitting in

Many people with autism learn strategies to help them blend in: but there can be costs

The costs of compensation strategies for people with autism; Hearing loss and dementia; Obesity and male fertility; Antibiotic resistance; Lyme disease

Many people with autistic spectrum disorder learn techniques to overcome their difficulties interacting with others.  The first study that has looked at the consequences of these compensatory strategies reveals some benefits but also significant downsides.  The consequences can be stress, low self-esteem, mental illness and misdiagnosis.  Claudia talks to lead researcher Professor Francesca Happé from King’s College London and Eloise Stark, a woman with autism.

A new research programme at Imperial College London is investigating the link between obesity and infertility in men.  Madeleine Finlay explores why weight gain and other factors of modern life might be influencing men’s sperm health.

Tick-borne Lyme disease is on the rise in the northern hemisphere.  Lyme disease can develop into a serious illness.  It is hard to diagnosis early and delayed diagnosis means lengthy treatment and recovery.  Dr Mollie Jewett at the University of Central Florida is working on a much faster means of diagnosis, and a more effective treatment.  Deborah Cohen meets Dr Jewett and her ticks.

Graham Easton is in the Health Check studio to talk about links between hearing loss and dementia, and the worrying spread of bacteria resistant to carbapenems, one of the most important kinds of antibiotic drugs. 


(Photo caption:  A young woman standing in the middle of a crowded street – credit: Getty Images)  


Health Check was presented by Claudia Hammond with comments from Dr Graham Easton.


Producer: Andrew Luck-Baker

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Health Check

Autism: the problems of fitting in

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Online

About BBC World Service