Is there really an epidemic of autism?
Journal Title: Postępy Nauk Medycznych - Year 2011, Vol 24, Issue 5
Abstract
Autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified and Asperger syndrome belong to a group of disorders called autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). In the past 25 years, an increase in the prevalence of ASDs has been observed in the USA, Europe, Japan, and Canada. According to data from more than a dozen epidemiological studies conducted in the last two decades, ASD is diagnosed in 60-70 children/10 000. In popular press and the media, this phenomenon is often described as an “autism epidemic”, which may suggest that there has been a real increase in the incidence of autism, not just in the prevalence of the disorder. However, the latest publications clearly indicate that there are other variables (e.g., change in the diagnostic criteria, availability of services, awareness of the disorder) responsible for the rise of ASDs.In this article the following issues will be examined: 1) range of prevalence estimates for autism and related disorders, 2) hypothesis of a secular increase in rates of autism, and 3) major sources of misunderstanding related to the increased number of diagnosed cases of autism.
Authors and Affiliations
Monika Suchowierska
Keywords
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