In 2012 the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported a 79% increase over the 2009 figure of the number of people diagnosed with autism.
Australian Bureau of Statistics
On its
Autism isn’t a new condition
Up until the
The term “early infantile autism” was coined by an American child psychiatrist, Leo Kanner, after he identified 11 children who displayed poor social interaction and persistent repetitive behaviour.
Asperger’s Syndrome, the milder form of autism, was identified by Hans Asperger in 1944. Asperger studied mental disorders, particularly in children but it wasn’t until the beginning of
Prior to 2013 there were four different diagnoses listed in the DMS
- Autistic disorder
- Asperger syndrome
- Pervasive development disorder – not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). This disorder describes children and adults who have significant challenges with social and language development.
- Childhood disintegrative disorder which described a child who up until the age of two has been developing normally but then suffered a severe regression in behaviour and intellect.
DSM-5 combined these diagnoses under the term “autistic spectrum disorder” (ASD) which had the immediate effect of changing the statistics.
What is autism
In 1977 research on twins found that genetics and biological differences in the brain were the most likely cause of autism. Current research confirms that it has strong genetic links but the exact cause is still elusive.
Autism is a lifelong condition. The neurological pathways of a person with autism develop differently and cause changes in behaviour, social interaction, communication, special interests and sensory processing of a person who is affected. The differences can vary significantly between individuals. They can be mild to severe, but create challenges for the person with autism. Rates of autism in boys are four times higher than in girls. However, current research indicates that autism presents differently in girls. You can read more about this here. https://www.autismawareness.com.au/could-it-be-autism/autism-and-girls/
Improved diagnosis
Since the 1980s the scientific, medical and wider communities have a far greater understanding of autism. Unfortunately, there is no simple way to diagnose it. It requires a robust assessment by a paediatrician or psychologist to get a full picture of a child’s behaviour at home and at school. This behaviour is then compared with a set of criteria developed by The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These criteria are reviewed every 15 years and have changed substantially over time. It now includes additional behaviours as well as subtler symptoms previously not recognised as part of ASD. The net has therefore widened and more children are being diagnosed. Greater awareness among parents also means that they seek help if they have concerns about their child.
What does it mean?
It is unlikely that autism has reached epidemic proportions. In general terms it seems more likely that we have greater awareness of it, diagnosis has improved, and people who previously would not be included on the spectrum are now being recognised.
References:
https://www.autismspectrum.org.au/sites/default/files/Factsheet_What%20is%20autism_20170306_1.pdf
