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MONDAY, Nov. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) – A new government study reveals that about 1 in 40 American children has autism, a huge leap from the previous estimate of 1 in 59 children.
The survey asked parents of more than 43,000 children aged 3 to 17 years old whether their children had previously been diagnosed with Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and if the child in question still had problems with ASD.
Study author Michael Kogan gave several explanations for the discrepancy between the previous figure of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and new figures from the National Survey of Children's Health of 2016.
First, he noted that "since there is no biological test for ASD, it is difficult to follow". And he added that different methods of data collection can produce very different results.
For example, Kogan pointed out that the CDC only collected information on 8-year-olds living in 11 residential areas. In comparison, the last survey covered a much larger age range and is the first effort of this type to be national in scope.
The latest figure is also based on a more recent period than the last CDC review in 2014, he noted. And his team's findings stem from information collected from parents, while the CDC conducted a review of medical and school records.
"I do not know if" surprised "is the word I would use," Kogan said of his team's findings. "We started the study knowing that the prevalence of ASD has been increasing for 30 or 40 years."
Kogan is Director of the Bureau of Epidemiology and Research, Office of Maternal and Child Health, US Department of Health and Human Services.
In addition to arriving at an estimate of the prevalence of autism, the investigators noted that more than a quarter of children with ASD (27%) were taking a type of medication to treat the symptoms of the disorder. Nearly two-thirds (64%) had received behavioral treatment in the year prior to the survey.
But parents of autistic children reported that their children needed more care – and had more difficulty getting it – than those with comparable conditions, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). , depression and anxiety, Down syndrome, behavioral or driving problems, intellectual or learning disabilities, and / or Tourette's syndrome.
Specifically, parents reported that they were 44% more likely to have difficulty getting mental health care, 24% less likely to benefit from assistance with care coordination and 23% less likely to have a "medical center" for their child, a single team of caregivers. .
The results were published online November 26 in the journal pediatrics.
Thomas Frazier, scientific manager at Autism Speaks, says little surprised results.
"They are generally consistent with previous surveys of parents and other direct prevalence studies in which researchers are looking for and directly identifying autism," he said, adding that the CDC figures are "probably a bit conservative".
As for the reasons why estimates have generally increased in recent years, Frazier rejected the idea that the global share of American autistic children is growing so rapidly, suggesting instead that methods of analysis have become "more liberal and inclusive."
On the broader issue of access to care, Frazier agreed that there is an urgent need to provide better access to early detection and subsequent treatment, especially for low-income families.
"At Autism Speaks, our autism treatment network has attempted to increase the awareness and screening capacity of pediatricians and family physicians," in addition to providing medical care. excellence, "he said.
And Frazier added that "early and intensive interventions on development and behavior are effective", especially when parents receive the training they need to be better placed to help their child.
According to Autism Speaks, Autism Spectrum Disorder refers to "a wide range of conditions characterized by problems of social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and non-verbal communication".
More information
Autism Speaks offers more information on access to autism care.
SOURCES: Michael Kogan, Ph.D., Director, Office of Epidemiology and Research, Health Services and Resource Administration, Office of Maternal and Child Health, Rockville, MD; Thomas Frazier, Ph.D., Scientific Lead, Autism Speaks, New York; November 26, 2018, pediatricsonline
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