'There's no silver bullet.' Seattle researchers say autism answers lie in early diagnosis, interventions Eilís O'Neill November 12, 2025 / 8:00 am

Marianne Bryan had no idea her three young children were autistic.

But she did see they were struggling. There were meltdowns; one of the children banged their head against the floor.

“Having a child who, as a kindergartener, was suicidal, was probably the most traumatic thing I've ever experienced in my life,” she said.

Bryan went to her children’s school, their doctor, and a psychologist. No one knew how to help.

Her story isn’t unusual. Most autistic kids aren’t getting what they need as early as they need it, said Annette Estes, a psychologist and the director of the University of Washington Autism Center.

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