According to Penn Nursing a study started in 2002 is showing a marked increase in autism in the Philadelphia region:
"One in 120 eight year olds living in Philadelphia have an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), according to data compiled in 2006 by the Pennsylvania Autism and Developmental Disabilities Surveillance Program (PADDSP) at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Previously, based on data compiled in 2002, 1 in 190 Philadelphia eight-year-olds were classified as having an ASD, marking a 58 percent increase in known cases of the disorder."
Some interesting additional data from the PADDSP study show that diagnoses are occurring on average, six months sooner than in 2002. Problems with language development prior to age 3 continue to occur at a high percentage for children diagnosed with autism.
A parallel study by the Centers of Excellence for Autism and Developmental Disabilities Research and Epidemiology (CADDRE) is also looking into risk factors and causes of autism with support from the Centers for Disease Control. In response to the rise in autism in the Philadelphia area, Penn Nursing is starting up an autism education program for student nurses to increase the ability of nurses to assist with the care of autistic children.
Related Links:
- Penn researchers produce most complete census to date of how many children in Philadelphia have autism spectrum disorders; Centers for Disease Control release national data
- Dr. Pinto-Martin receives grant to to participate in national CDC study
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Prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (PDF)
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