Psychology Professor Provides Clues about Autism Causality through Birth Order Study

More children are diagnosed with autism each year than juvenile diabetes, AIDS, and cancer combined. According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism affects 1 in 88 American children, prompting researchers to scramble for answers. Providing a significant piece to this puzzle is Loren Martin, PhD. Martin is an APU professor and director of research for the Department of Graduate Psychology. He conducted a groundbreaking study linking birth order to autism severity. Martin published the results in the November 30, 2012, issue of PLOS ONE, a leading peer-reviewed scientific journal.