The apparent rise in the proportion of children in the United States
with autism appears to be real. Ranging from one in 500 to one in
1,000 cases in the United States each year, autism prevalence is
increasing with successively younger children, particularly those
born between 1987 and 1992.
Experts are worried about this trend as it places a tremendous
strain on the nation’s special education resources and will
be an absolutely stunning financial burden to already strapped school
systems.
In order to access the prevalence trends of this disability, researchers
used data reported to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office
in Special Education Programs, which involved children aged 6-17
between 1992 and 2001. Results for autism were compared with trends
of other disabilities including traumatic brain injury, mental retardation
and speech/language impairment.
What did the analysis show? The number of children receiving a
special education classification of autism has increased drastically
over the past decade.
Determining the Culprit Behind Autism
The autism trend has raised many questions regarding its origin.
Though it is unknown what exactly causes autism, some research has
pointed to genetics, while scientists have explored the possibility
of factors such as:
- Metabolic
- Infectious
- Immunologic
- Neurological
- Environmental
The National Autism Association believes there is a sufficient
amount of evidence supporting such a link between autism and vaccines.
Pediatrics
March 2005; 115(3): e277-e282 (Free Full-Text Article)