One of the answers lies in the use of simulation in medicine.

An excellent knol written by Diane Sliwka and Manuel pardo explains all you need to know about the use of simulation in medicine.

According to the knol, simulation, in essence, is a technique for practice and learning that can be applied to many disciplines, such as aviation, nuclear power plants, space aeronautics, the military, business, and healthcare.

There are many types of simulation:

1. Standardized Patients: Standardized Patients (SPs) are actors or lay persons who are trained to reliably play the role of a patient in a clinical encounter.
2. Computer (Screen) Based Systems and Virtual Reality: Computers and virtual reality currently allow users to interact with an environment whose output is through a computer screen.
3. Part Task Trainers: Part task trainers are devices designed to replicate a particular part of the anatomy.
4. Hybrid Simulation: Hybrid simulation combines standardized patients with part task trainers.
5. Full Body Mannequin: Full body mannequin-based simulators are currently used primarily for training teams of doctors to respond to medical, emergency room, surgical, or obstetric patients.

Do those simulations really helps medical students and apprentices?

According to the knol and its sources – yes.

The features of simulation which best facilitate learning include:

1. providing feedback.
2. repetitive practice.
3. curriculum integration.
4. range of difficulty level.

The educational benefits of simulation in medical education include the following:

1. deliberate practice with feedback.
2. exposure to uncommon events.
3. reproducibility.
4. the opportunity for assessment of learners.
5. the absence of risk to patient.

You can read the more detailed explanation on simulation in medicine from the knol.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder usually first identified during early childhood, that causes what is often referred to as a ‘triad of social impairments.’

The triad of social impairments mentioned above consist of: effects on social development, the development of communication skills, and the activities and interests of the child.

The causes of autism can be identified from 2 point of views – neurobiology and genetics

In the eyes of neurobiology, autism is a disorder that affects how the brain is developed. However, because of the different studies and symptoms involving in neurobiology research, there is no single theory about the cause of autism at the present moment.

In term of genetics, autism is understood as genetic. However, again, there is no single theory that can exactly determine the cause of autism.

I found interesting on Bryna’s explanation about what’s not the cause of autism, but we often relate it to autism:

• Childhood vaccinations do not cause autism.
• no environmental causes of autism that have been studied have been identified to cause or increase the rate of autism.
• Bad parenting and the absence of sufficient love does not cause autism.

Regarding autism treatment, Bryna explained that children with autism learn differently. Understanding this will help parents to decide which autism treatments that are the right ones for their children.

For more information about autism, the causes and the treatments, please visit Bryna’s knol.