Autism Statistics
Sunday, November 09, 2003 (23:19:56)

Posted by Sylvia

According to Autism Society of America, the most cited statistic is that autism occurs in 4.5 out of 10,000 live births. This based on large-scale surveys conducted in the United States and England.

In addition, the estimate of children having autism vary considerably depending on the country, ranging from 2 out of 10,000 in Germany to as high as 16 out of 10,000 in Japan.

Possible reasons for the discrepancy rates may be due to differing diagnostic criteria, genetic factors, and/or environmental influences.

In addition, incidence that Autism Society of America gives is that autism is three times more likely to affect male than females. This gender difference is not unique to autism since many development disabilities have a great male to female ratio.

Because cure for autism has not been founded, some specialists are reluctant to give diagnose of autism. They fear that it will cause parents to lose hope. As a result the may apply a more general term that simply describes the child�s behaviors or sensory deficits. "Severe communication disorder with autism-like-behavior," multi-sensory system disorder," and sensory integration dysfunction" are some of the terms that are used. Children with milder or fewer symptoms are often diagnosed as having Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD)(Autism, 21).

Harvard Mental Health explains that under a federal law, the individuals with disabilities Education Act, children with autism and other developmental disorders are eligible for education appropriate to their needs from the age of three. The law requires an evaluation and an individual education plan (IEP), with a reevaluation at least every three years.

There are a wide variety of arrangements, depending on the child�s need, from mainstreaming and regular classrooms for the most capable children to private residential programs for the most severely affected.

Source