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Autism Facts & Stats
- As often as 1 in 150 babies develop into children with
autism
- A decade ago only 1 in 2,500 were diagnosed with autism. It
was 1 in 10,000 in the early 80’s. The disorder was first
recognized in 1943.
- 1.5 million Americans have autism.
- As many as 4 million people could have autism by 2015.
- It is the fastest growing developmental disability.
- People with autism account for nearly one-fourth of the 6.2
million special needs Americans.
- 1 in 68 families are impacted by autism.
- The National Institute of Health will spend 102 million
dollars in 2005 on autism research – a five-fold increase in
six years.
- Growth comparisons during the 1990’s:
U.S. population increase: 13%
Disabilities increase: 16%
Autism increase: 172%
- $90 billion annual cost to care for those with autism
- 90% of costs are in adult services
- Cost of lifelong care can be reduced by 2/3 with early
diagnosis and intervention
- In 8 years, the annual cost will be over $200 billion
annually
- People with autism usually appear outwardly normal, which
has led it to be known as the “invisible disability.”
- Autism can transform a loving toddler into a detached and
uncommunicative child. Researchers aren’t sure of its causes
and say there is no cure. And the number of children with
autism continues to rise dramatically.
- No one is sure what causes autism but research seems to
suggest that it is caused by both genetic and environmental
factors. There is even talk of environmental toxins and
preservatives in vaccines may play a part.
What is Autism?
Autism is a lifelong developmental disorder affecting the way
a person communicates and related to people around them.
Autism has only been recognized since 1943. Another related
condition is Aspergers Syndrome.
Autism occurs in about one of every 166 births. Two decades
ago it was one in 10,000. Ten years ago it was 1 in 2,000.
Symptoms usually begin to show when these children are between
12 and 30 months. Symptoms may change over the years and all
children, including children with autism, learn as they grow.
Those with autism are often also mentally handicapped, which
makes the disorder much more challenging for them. Many
experience minor lack of muscle coordination.
People with autism are not physically disabled and “look” just
like anybody without the disability. Due to this invisible
nature it can be much harder to create awareness and
understanding of the condition. People with autism can often
have accompanying learning disabilities but everyone with the
condition shares a difficulty in making sense of the world.
Reality to an autistic person is a confusing, interacting mass
of events, people, places, sounds and sights. There seems to
be no clear boundaries, order of meaning to anything. A large
part of life is spent just trying to work out the pattern
behind everything.
What is Aspergers Syndrome?
As soon as we meet a person we make all sorts of judgments.
Just by looking we can often guess their age or status, and by
the expression on their face or the tone of their voice we can
tell immediately whether they are happy, angry or sad and so
respond accordingly.
But not everyone does this naturally. People with Aspergers
Syndrome find it difficult to read the signals which most of
us take for granted. As a result they find it hard to
communicate and interact with others.
Aspergers Syndrome is a form of autism, a disability that
affects the way a person communicates and relates to others. A
number of the traits of autism are common to Aspergers
Syndrome including:
- Difficulty in communicating
- Difficulty in social relationships
- A lack of imagination and creative play
However, people with Aspergers Syndrome usually have fewer
problems with language than those with autism, often speaking
fluently though their words can sometimes sound formal or
stilted. People with Aspergers Syndrome also do not have the
accompanying learning disabilities often associated with
autism. In fact, people with Aspergers are often of average or
above average intelligence.
Because of this many children with Aspergers Syndrome enter
mainstream school and, with the right support and
encouragement, can make good progress and go on to further
education and employment.
Characteristics of Autism
You may know a child with autism….
Do they spin around and around?
Is their speech repetitive, like an echo?
Are they attracted to shows like Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy?
Do they like to watch the same movies over and over again?
Are they fascinated with numbers and letters?
Do they seem unafraid of things that they should be afraid of?
Is it hard for them to make eye contact?
Do they shun away from being touched?
Language:
Some never learn to use spoken language, while others will
only learn the basic language specific to their needs. A child
may mostly repeat what he hears (echolalia). Others develop
advanced speech, but have problems if in their ability to
express feelings or ideas, or in knowing the right way or time
to say things.
Social:
The actions of others are confusing to these children and they
may withdraw from social interactions. Many have difficulty
with interactive play. They may have difficulty picking up
social clues so their action may not be appropriate for the
situation.
Activities:
With their difficulty understanding abstract ideas, these
children usually prefer and learn best through concrete
activities. Some show little imaginative play, some have
imaginative play, but it tends to follow set themes or
interests. Many prefer to repeat the same activities over and
over. The child may even “withdraw into himself”, engaging in
repetitive self-stimulation such as rocking or rhythmic moving
of the hands. These children often seek out the security of
routines, and can become very dependent on them. They may
avoid new experiences or situations.
Perceptions:
It appears from both the observations of others and by first
person accounts that these children often experience
perceptions differently. Sights, sounds, textures that we
easily accept can cause anxiety and even rage in a child. One
child, for example, said that red hurt his eyes. Another flew
into a rage when she felt the “prickle” of wool. They may find
human contact stressful at times.
Emotion:
Difficulties in understanding and articulating their own
emotions, or those of others, may cause your child’s response
in some situation to appear to be inappropriate. Emotional
outbursts are common and it may be difficult for them to
regain control. These outbursts may result in a child trying
to hurt themselves or others.
Characteristics of Aspergers Syndrome
Aspergers Syndrome shares many of the same characteristics as
autism. The key characteristics are:
Difficulty with Social Relationships
Unlike people with ‘classic’ autism, who often appear to be
withdrawn and uninterested in the world around them, many
people with Asperger syndrome try hard to be sociable and do
not dislike human contact. However, they still find it hard to
understand non-verbal signals, including facial expressions.
Difficulty with Communication
People with Asperger syndrome may speak very fluently but they
may not take much notice of the reaction of people listening
to them; they may talk on and on regardless of the listener’s
interest or may appear insensitive to their feelings.
Despite having good language skills, people with Aspergers
Syndrome may sound over-precise or over-literal-jokes can
cause problems as can exaggerate language and metaphors; for
example, a person with Aspergers Syndrome may be confused or
frightened by a statement like ‘she but my head off’.
Lack of Imagination
While they often excel at learning facts and figures, people
with Aspergers Syndrome find it hard to think in abstract
ways. This can cause problems for children in school where
they may have difficulty with certain subjects, such as
literature or religious studies.
Special Interests
People with Aspergers Syndrome often develop an almost
obsessive interest in a hobby or collection. Usually their
interest involves arranging or memorizing facts about a
specialist subject, such as train timetables, Derby winners,
or the dimensions of cathedrals.
Love of Routines
For people with Aspergers Syndrome any unexpected change in
routine can be upsetting. Young children may impose their own
routines, such as insisting on always walking the same route
to school. At school, sudden changes, such as an alteration to
the timetable, may upset them. People with Aspergers Syndrome
often prefer to order their day according to a set pattern. If
they work set hours then any unexpected delay, such as a
traffic hold-up, can make them anxious or upset. |
