New study shows autism more common than previously thought

[Hathor]

This article says autism is as common as 1 in 58.

I'm not especially surprised at this. I know several people (adults) who are probably on the spectrum but without a diagnosis, so it depends what they're considering as "autism".

I think many people think of autism as a highly debilitating disorder, which obviously it is for many, but it's being recongnised more and more in children/adults who are mildly affected and who would probably have carried other labels in the past.

Yet there is still very little help out there for families affected by autism. Special schools and units are still being closed. LEAs are reluctant to pay for support for children with autism in mainstream schools. Waiting lists for therapies are often years long. Applying for DLA is horrific. Pages and pages of writing in great detail about "My child can't do X like normal children." Imagine being told that you have to write everything negative you can think of about your child.

It's all very well printing research that x number of children are autistic but no-one with any power to change things seems to want to act on it.

The research hasn't been published yet but if the figures are right it's worrying (whatever the cause).

I think it's very interesting. I se lots of children with ASD at work and some of those with Asperger's I'm sure would not have been identified as such twenty years ago. I also suspect that some children who have ASD with a severe LD are also more frequently given the diagnosis than would have been the case 20 years ago.

I think that increased awareness of the condition and the traits associated with it really plays a big part. I recognise traits in myself and my colleagues.

I am sure my dad and brother are on the spectrum (undiagnosed) which makes me believe that there is an increase in diagnosis, but also find the fact that there is a 'burn the witch' mindset in the medical establishment re vaccinations, very worrying.

Yes that is true Bookthief. There are lots of adults who would have gone through schooling before autism was recognised. I am not sure when it was first 'named' but people are very aware of it now and more likely to get their children assessed.
Yes I agree that more support is needed. After the struggle to get assessed, even given the result, the support is often lacking due to lack of funding IMO.
The support for adults with autism must be pretty thin on the ground too.
I suppose studies like this that show it is more common than previously thought might help in the demand for more funding for research and support.

I think more diagnosis is playing a part here. On a slightly different note, I think the term "autism" has been normalised. Many times you hear people say that someone - usually a man - is a bit "autistic" and it usually means they think he's highly organised, trainspotterish and unsociable.

It doesn't surprise me. I'm no expert but I believe the increase may be due that cases that would go undiagnosed in the past now are easily identified, more people is aware of the traits than before.

Having said that, the incidence of severe cases didn't seem to be that high in the past.

Yes that is true NKF. Autism is a spectrum isn't it?, so you could say, as LaDiDaDi does too, that you could recognise traits in people, from mildly autistic to more severe.
The article doesn't seem to imply that they have studied the reason for the increase, but were just surprised at the high number: 1 in 58 is high isn't it?

The article states that one suggested reason for increased autism is 'children's exposure to hormones in the womb, especially testosterone'.
How do children get increased exposure to testosterone in the womb? Is it something to do with the pill?

I definitely agree that the cause is greater awareness and understanding, therefore more diagnoses.
It's a similar situation to dyslexia - it would have been unheard of 30 years ago, but there are many diagnosed cases now. It doesn't mean dyslexia is on the increase.

Please excuse my foggy mind but I have not read much about this in a couple of years...

Does anybody know if the incide of cases diminished in Japan after it was removed?

I think I also saw an article in WIRED about this, particularly talking about the Silicon Valley Community. Does anybody know if any changes to the vaccination provision were made and if there has been a change in the incidence of diagnosed cases once changes were introduced?

After what was removed?

Hi
I am not sure it actually made any difference as although the MMR was abandoned in Japan the seperate jabs were given very close together - so IF you think the combined assault on the immune system causes a problem the proximity of the jabs would have exactly the same effect

not that surprised really.

I am certain that both myself and my siblings are on the spectrum. We once filled in a questionnaire [psted on here about autism and were unsurprised to get high scores. My brother is more obviously different but I wonder how much of that is being a bloke. He gets away with it due to his job type. My great Uncle was severely autistic(no diagnose then but Granny has read up on it and swears that is how he was).

My mother and Aunt both have traits too beyond quirks that everyone has.

This Scientist 2005 article shows cases of autism continued to rise in Japan after the triple MMR vaccine was withdrawn. They conclude that other factors must be responsible.

Hathor, the MMR.

Actually did a bit of googling and have found the answer to my question about the japan case

Interestng Icarus. Perhaps there are family (genetic) factors causing it, or perhaps your family all had the same environmental factors in your lives.

I'm quite sure that increase in diagnosis is at least a part of it. My father was never diagnosed - I'd be enormously surprised, now, if someone like him wasn't.

Crossposted but wow, we got even the same link!

Unless you can be sure that it is genuinely the case that there are more children with autism rather tham more children being diagnosed with autism, then any MMR link is secondary. There may not be a real rise at all.

snap!

Yes NKF, that is true.
The director of the study team even stated that 'better recognition of the condition' might be one of the factors for the 1 in 58 figure.

I think the study only shows that a higher number of children are affected than measured previously.

I hope this will translate into more funding for support and further research. (If whoever holds the funds is doshing it out partly according to numbers affected).

Not sure about the environmental factors. Varied between town and country over the generations.

We were all vaxed though including my Granny and Great Uncle. My dd1 had the baby ones then I have done single measles at over age 2. DD2 is unvaxed so far. Long story about weird reactions to the baby jabs in dd1.

It is odd though. My sis and I have trained ourselves to have more empathy and how to hold a normal conversation. have to constantly remind myself to do the fill in bits in conversations, small talk etc. And not to answer q's with a list of facts when it was meant to be a light conversation starter. (example - what did you get up to last night?)

My brother on the other hand doesn't give a toss whether people get on with him or not and is painful to speak to at times.

ProjectIcarus. That is interesting. Did you 'train' yourselves or have any support with 'social skills'?
I don't think I am autistic, but I find my ability to express empathy goes up and down depending on mental state and tiredness. It must be so hard to have to force yourself to express empathy when you don't really feel it.