Autism, also called Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), is a complex neurobiological disorder encompassing a wide range of impairments in social interaction and communication. The cause of autism is unknown, yet it is identifiable and treatments and interventions are available.
Autism is usually diagnosed by age 3. Children who are diagnosed as autistic have problems communicating; they may be unable to look at the person they are talking to or the person talking to them. They may repeat the same sentence or phrase over and over to try and calm themselves down. Some may never learn to speak at all. However, because ASD is a spectrum disorder, symptoms and manifestations cover a wide range from mild to severe.
Today, 1 in 150 American children is diagnosed with a form of autism; autism is more prevalent than diabetes, pediatric cancer, and AIDS combined. Autism affects children across all social, racial, ethnic and economic groups, but it is four times more likely to affect boys than girls.
The number of children diagnosed with autism has increased since 1990, when fewer than 5 out of every 10,000 American children were diagnosed. Those numbers jumped to 60 out of every 10,000 American children by the end of 2006. Does this indicate an autism epidemic or simply an increase of awareness of this disorder? Could it be that there have been changes in policies and clinical definitions among medical professionals?
Schools have been required for many years to report the number of students needing special education. Autism wasn’t added to the list until the 1991-1992 school year. In 1995, more than 22,000 American students were receiving autism-related services and by 2004, more than 140,000 were receiving those same services, likely because of the broader definitions passed down my medical professionals.
In addition to the broader definitions, some states are offering financial incentives for diagnosing autism. These incentives can include Medicaid eligibility and affordable health programs for developmental disabilities.
Given this recent information, it is difficult to determine if there is truly an autism epidemic. Regardless, an increased awareness of autism means an increase in the opportunities for treatment and intervention. Parents are usually the first to notice signs of autism, and they are usually correct in their perceptions that their child is “different” or has gained and then lost skills. Early detection and intervention is critical. Learning about the signs and symptoms of autism, and then securing treatment and intervention, can result in significant improvement in children diagnosed with ASDs.