Friday, January 08, 2010

New Study Finds 1 in 100 Kids Have Autism


According to the government's latest estimate released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 110 children have autism. Until recently, the CDC had been saying that about 1 in 150 children had the disorder. The increase may be due to better diagnosis and changes in how well records of it were kept in the study sites.

Doctors still don't know what causes autism. They are investigating possible genetic and environmental triggers, but are still years away from results. Autism is not diagnosed with biologic tests, the only diagnosis is making judgements about the child's behavior. Language and social impairments, and unusual, repetitious behavior can be signs of autism.

Health officials say the stepping up screening of children for autism is important because early therapy can improve how well children develop. Parents have often voiced concerns about a child's development before age 2, the average age of diagnosis is about 4 1/2.

1 comments:

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