330 – Autism, ADHD, and Anxiety: the rise in autism & an approach to diagnosing & treating children

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Trenna Sutcliffe is a developmental behavioral pediatrician & the founder & medical director of the Sutcliffe Clinic in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she partners with families to provide care for children facing behavioral challenges, developmental differences, & school struggles. In this episode, Trenna shares her journey into developmental & behavioral pediatrics, including her pioneering work at Stanford & her expertise in autism, ADHD, & anxiety—the "three As." She explores the diagnostic processes, the overlap & comorbidities of these conditions, & the importance of personalized treatment plans that address both medical & environmental factors. Trenna offers valuable insights into the changing prevalence of autism, the impact of evolving diagnostic criteria, & the range of therapies & medications available to support children & their families. She also discusses the challenges in accessing care & the critical need for a holistic approach that bridges healthcare & education.

We discuss:
0:00:00-Intro
0:01:09-A passion for developmental-behavioral pediatrics (DBP), & the process of diagnosing anxiety, ADHD, & autism
0:08:53-Anxiety & ADHD: assessing impairment & self-esteem & identifying anxiety & emotional well-being in young patients
0:16:45-Evolving diagnosis of autism: the spectrum & individual needs
0:28:32-Dramatic rise in autism spectrum disorder (ASD): genetics, environment, expanded diagnostic criteria
0:41:40-Exploring epigenetics & the potential multigenerational impact of environment exposures on susceptibility
0:46:22-Evolution of autism classifications, & the particular challenges for children with mildautism due to a lack of support
0:54:20-Broadening of the autism spectrum: benefits/risks of expanded diagnostic criteria & the need to focus on better outcomes
1:05:49-Overlap between ASD, ADHD, & anxiety
1:09:57-Understanding oppositional defiant disorder, & the importance of understanding the “why” behind a behavior
1:17:05-Defining developmental-behavioral pediatrics (DBP)
1:25:08-Updated methods of ABA (applied behavioral analysis) therapy: evolution, controversies, challenges of scaling autism care, & tailored interventions
1:36:21-Tips for parents trying to find & evaluate care for children with autism, ADHD, or anxiety
1:43:51-Tailored treatments for ADHD: balancing stimulant medications with behavioral training
1:56:28-The interplay between medication, behavioral therapy, & neuroplasticity in managing ADHD
2:02:10-Using medication to treat anxiety & other symptoms in kids with autism without ADHD
2:04:19-FAQs about medicating children with ADHD: benefits, side effects, dosage
2:06:52-The “superpowers” associated with level 1 autism
2:09:26-The next steps to increase support for children with ASD, anxiety, & ADHD

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The Peter Attia Drive is a deep-dive podcast focusing on maximizing longevity, & all that goes into that from physical to cognitive to emotional health. With over 90 million episodes downloaded, it features topics including exercise, nutritional biochemistry, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, mental health, & much more.

Peter Attia is the founder of Early Medical, a medical practice that applies the principles of Medicine 3.0 to patients with the goal of lengthening their lifespan & simultaneously improving their healthspan.

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