1 out of a possible 50 school-age children may have autism. This is according to the latest government report on autism prevalence in the United States. This comes as a shock, to many people, including health professionals, government agencies and parents. It is a surprise, contrary to a little comforting news from last year’s 1 out of 88, according to research findings by another government agency.
Numbers may constantly keep soaring depending on the different approaches and methods adopted by different research bodies. However, this news gives a worrying trend of autism today in United States.
In the latest study, 100,000 parents responded to an assortment of questions in respect of their children’s (ages 6-17) health conditions. Specifically, the parents stated whether or not their children had been diagnosed previously on the autism spectrum and whether or not they currently had the same diagnosis. The autism spectrum includes the pervasive developmental disorder-not (PDD-NOS), Asperger’s Syndrome and autism. Boys are four times more likely to have the condition than their female colleagues, the new study notes further.
In the second study, specific attention was centered around 8-year old children. The diagnosis of the sample population came mainly from official records, including the school district.
Stephen J. Blumberg, study author and a senior scientist at the National Center for Health Statistics predicts that there may be more demand for autism services than in the previous years, following the high rates of autism revealed in the latest research report by the government.
Professor of Anthropology at George Washington University, Roy Richard Grinker, exhumes confidence and optimism that the high rates in autism only indicate progress and improved research methods. He feels that there is an indication of an upsurge in the prevalence of the condition, whatsoever. On the other hand, Stephen Blumberg worries that the high rates of the condition revealed by the studies may mean that there will be a rise in the autism-related services for affected children in the country. Blumberg is a National Center for Health Statistics senior scientist.
In earlier research undertakings, Yale research experts found that the dreadful condition may be identified and diagnosed at birth. This, in essence, means that children, may start receiving appropriate treatments at their tender-most days, helping to combat the effects earlier than has been the practice.
“At birth we have a tool now that can tell us who’s at risk and who isn’t at risk for autism,” noted Harvey Kliman. He went on to state that such a breakthrough offers a chance to intervene when the brain is most plastic and able to change positively.
With regard to the fight against the condition and its historical prevalence, autism, today in United States shows reverse negative progress for decades. It is shocking to know that the proportion of children with in autism in 1975 was 1 in 5,000. Today, it is 1 in 50, tremendous prevalence of the health risk to unborn children in the United States.
Research work seems to be at its best during the present times. It is everyone’s hope that a lasting solution will come out soon.