Welcome to the August 2025 Learning Brain News.

Enjoy this month's instalment of our newsletter. As always, it is packed with links that you may find interesting. Here are some that especially caught our attention:

• Children beat AI in visual logic puzzles
• Four distinct subtypes of autism identified
• Can ADHD be funny?

The Learning Brain News Team 

Baby Talk Enhances Infant Speech Learning

An new meta-analysis of 55 studies across at least 10 languages showed that baby talk helps young children perceive and learn language. 

Baby talk is the modified speech mothers and other adults often use when speaking to infants. 

Kids Outsmart AI in Critical Thinking Puzzle Game

A new puzzle-based game helps children recognise where artificial intelligence still struggles. The game features visual logic puzzles that are easy for humans but hard for AI, and allows kids to compare their answers with chatbot responses.

Even when AI gets the right answer, its explanation is often wrong, teaching kids to confidently question stated misinformation. Through trial, error, and guidance, children learn to refine their instructions and see AI as a tool rather than an authority

Four Hidden Types of Autism Revealed - and Each Tells a Different Genetic Story

Scientists have used data from over 5,000 children and a powerful new computational method to identify four distinct subtypes of autism. These subtypes - each with unique traits, developmental paths, and genetic signatures - promise to revolutionise how we understand, diagnose, and treat autism. 

30 Reminders That It’s OK to Laugh About Your ADHD

The magic of pure laughter can transform embarrassment into amusement and self-loathing into levity.

Dyslexia & Intelligence: Is there a Connection?

Some teachers and parents can mistake a dyslexic child for someone who is lacking intelligence. But the truth is dyslexia has nothing to do with a child’s level of intelligence.