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The number of American children diagnosed with autism is steadily growing
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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The number of American children diagnosed with "autism" is steadily growing - from one for every 110 people in 2006, to one for 88 people in 2008.
Autism manifests itself in the form of various deviations in behavior. In some children, autism occurs in a weak form (" Asperger syndrome ") - they often fall into awkward situations. In others, the symptoms are more pronounced: these people experience significant difficulties in socialization and communication; as a rule, they shy from communicating with other people.
The Federal Research Organization The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) assessed the observation data for 8-year-olds from 14 states that were collected in 2008. It turned out that 11 or more children out of every 1,000 were diagnosed with autism. According to the CDC, among boys, autism occurs five times more often - an average of one in 54.
CDC director Thomas Frieden says that an increase in the number of cases of autism detection may indicate improvement in diagnostic methods. "The doctors have learned to put this diagnosis better," he says. "So, there is a possibility that an increase in the number of children with autism speaks only of better diagnosis."
Since autism usually manifests itself in the first three years of life, the CDC calls for an early and frequent examination of children - at the age of one and a half, two and two and a half years.
Susan Heyman, head of the subcommittee of the American Academy of Pediatrics for Autism, says it's too late to wait for the diagnosis of autism before the child turns 4 years old. According to her, early therapeutic intervention can help those suffering from this condition learn to lead a relatively normal lifestyle.
Heyman says that parents should immediately consult a doctor if they notice that their children are behaving in an unusual way: "Children who do not point to objects that avoid eye contact while communicating may suffer from autism."
The largest autism advocacy organization in the United States, Autism Speaks, claims that about 67 million people worldwide suffer from autism.