A new study reports changes in the prevalence of parent reported Autism Spectrum Disorder in school aged children. A group of professionals and experts in child development studied results from telephone surveys conducted by the National Survey of Children’s Health in 2007 and 2011-2012.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a set of complex neurodevelopment disorders that include autistiv disorder, Asperger disorder and pervasive developmental disorder (not otherwise specified), according to thr DSM 5, just being released this spring. Children who have ASD display mild to severe impairments in social interaction and communication along with restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behaviors, interests and activities.
Diagnosis of ASD should be based on comprehensive behavioral valuations, making diagnostic assessment a complex and time-consuming. ASD symptoms can often be identified in children as young as 18 months. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends screening of all children by the age of 24 months. Nevertheless,
Many children with ASD, especially those with mild or limited speech delays, may not be diagnosed until they are of school age when parents become concerned about an inability to make friends an teachers notice difficulties with peer interactions.
Formal diagnoses may also occur at this age because a named disability is needed for school-aged children to qualify for special education services under IDEA. The reported prevalence of ASD has increased over recent decades.
The prevalence of parent-reported ASD among children aged 6–17 was 2.00% in 2011–2012, a significant increase from 2007 (1.16%). The greatest reporting increase was for boys and teens aged 14-17. Both the quantity of reporting ASD symptoms and the severity of symptoms reported showed increases.
The number of students estimated to have some form of ASD has jumped dramatically over the past few years. Once thought to be about 1 in 100 children, then 1 in about 80, the estimate now has close to doubled from the reported and diagnosed numbers less than 10 years ago. Newest estimates are about 1 in 50 children have some type of ASD symptoms.
Several reasons may contribute to the rise of reported numbers. Much research has gone into the causes, symptoms, and diagnostic measures surrounding autism. More knowledge can mean earlier and more accurate diagnosis of the disorder. While no once cause has yet been pinpointed, some common factors are beginning to emerge that show trends in autism.
One is the age of the father and grandfather of autistic children, particularly boys. Genetic research has shown that male genes change many more times over a man’s lifetime than over a woman’s. Changes can mean more room for mutations, which may be a cause. Some theories trace genetic trends in families. Others blame the environment, stress during pregnancy, diet, chemicals in food and the atmosphere, and even global warming.
Another factor contributing to the rise in reported ASD children may be better educated parents. Many parents are more aware of the symptoms of ASD and other developmental delays due to the availability of information in the media and on the internet. Better educated parents can mean more awareness, and earlier awareness that a child may have a delay in some area of development.
The stigma of ASD may also be lessening, especially for mild ASD, frequently referred to as Asperger’s Syndrome. Accepting that developmental delays exist, parents are beginning to prioritize the needs of their children differently than a generation ago when hiding a disability may have been acceptable. Today’s parents are trending toward acknowledgement as soon as possible so early intervention services can help children succeed in school and learn the life skills needed for social communication.
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