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New Studies Show Autism More Prevalent in Kids and Adults

Posted by Janet Harriett on Oct.07, 2009

©iStockphoto.com - Graffizone

©iStockphoto.com - Graffizone

On Monday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s Maternal & Child Health Bureau of Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) released a new report on the prevalence of autism and autism-spectrum disorders in the United States. The results of the HRSA phone poll indicates that autism and ASD are more widespread than previously thought. The last estimates put the autism rate at roughly 1 in 150, but the new study indicates that the rate is 1 in 91 children. In boys, autism was even more common, with a parental-reported rate of 1 in 58 boys. Autism was slightly more prevalent in older children than in those born around the turn of the millennium.

This new study shows a drastic jump in the officially recognized rate of autism in the U.S.; however, it brings the estimate of American autism cases in line with the prevalence of autism seen worldwide. Other countries that have rigorously studied their own autism rates have all converged at a rate of about 1% of children with autism or ASD.

In promising news, the same HRSA survey indicated that 38% of the children who had been diagnosed with autism no longer had the disorder. While this number likely includes some incorrect initial diagnoses, this shows the potential for autism to be curable through medical and behavioral interventions.

Coinciding with the report’s release, Kathleen Sibelius, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services published an editorial in Yahoo! News touting a new strategic plan and funding for autism research. Secretary Sibelius also highlighted some of the new and ongoing support efforts for those with autism and their caregivers. Read the full text of the op-ed piece here.

The U.S. study publication in the journal Pediatrics, follows closely on the heels of a British study which, for the first time, attempted to measure the prevalence of autism in adults. The study, which still needs to be confirmed with a larger sample size that includes institutionalized populations, shows an adult autism rate of 1%, about the same as seen in children worldwide. As in children, autism in adults was more prevalent in men than in women. The study also found that adults with autism were more likely to have never been married, but did not use social services at a higher rate than the general population.  The full text of the study is available here.

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Posted under Autism, News & Politics.

Article By: Janet Harriett

Janet Harriett

Profile: Janet Harriett, Green Diva Mom's editor, has been a writer and editor for print and online media, specializing in education and environmental issues since 1998. She lives on 2 acres in central Ohio with her husband, a 275-square-foot backyard garden and a home orchard growing 25 varieties of fruit. Janet holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing.

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Latest posts by Janet Harriett

2 comments for this entry:
  1. Kids Search Engines
    November 6th, 2009 on 3:20 am

    This is really interesting. Thanks for the sharing.

  2. Justin
    December 12th, 2009 on 12:40 am

    I listened to your interview that was on the sutism.org website. I couldn’t believe my ears. I suspected that heavy metals are involved in autism, ADHD, and other child difficulties. It was saddening to hear your discussion of Thymerisol and vaccines.

    Here is a post from another website.

    Jody,

    Here is what I can say about the NCD:

    My son Brandon is 10 years old and has Autism, even though it’s only a mild case…it can still be very trying. In my path of discovering that he was going to need more than the average child, I was (and still am) searching high and low to help him overcome the Autism typicalities (mentally and physically). After taking him to homeopathics, traditional medical, neurological and naturopathic doctors…I was wearing thin on ‘what is going to give’. Taking aggressive measures to help with his diet, socializing him and keeping him active was a great start. With all the vitamins, enzymes, probiotics and fish oil…the thing I realized he needed the most was the one that I overlooked…minerals.

    I started him on the Waiora NCD and after a month…he seemed more presnt, not so distant like he was visiting outer space. When I had taken him to the Bodies exhibit he asked ‘Mom, where are we going?’ So I told him and he said that we had been there before. ‘No we have not…I would remember’ ‘Yes, we have mom…remember, it was for the Walk for Autism last year’. I nearly about missed my turn when I realized he was right.

    After Brandon being on the drops for 3-4 weeks the Naturopathic Doctor (who I’ve come to love and respect so much…a real ANGEL!) told me to keep him on the drops AND to increase the dosage. WOW! And in his testing the drops had not only shown up as “doing their job” as a postive, but the vaccines I had been working on removing from his system…WERE FINALLY GONE!!!!!! You couldn’t have slapped the smile off my face…it was a miracle! The drops are here to stay!

    I believe my son is one of many who will be functionable when important people in his life show him how to take care of himself. I believe also that this is only the beginning of treating this complex condition that we call Autism.

    love, Genni

    NCD is Natural Cellular Defense, a new product that removes heavy metals and toxins.

    Thanks for your passion for children.

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