With Autism Awareness Month in full swing, the launch of the Seattle Children’s Autism Center Blog seems quite timely. As a large group of more than 30 autism specialists, we are excited to begin bringing you the latest information, perspectives, opinions, and sometimes controversies in autism and related matters.
It is our hope that this blog can become a respected source of information, but also a constructive and stimulating forum for exchanging ideas and opinions, as there is so much to think about when one is involved in caring for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). To kick off our first post we thought a brief update on some broad topics related to ASD would be appropriate.
The Stats
Those of you who are seasoned readers of online information about autism are likely familiar with the current statistics about this disorder. Those of you who are newer to the world of autism may be shocked to find out that recent studies suggest an average of one in 110 children in the United States are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (Kogan et al., 2009). The fact that this study was based on parent report of diagnosis, rather than direct assessment of individuals, does raise some methodological questions. However, these numbers are nonetheless quite concerning, especially when you consider that the prevalence was thought to be one in 500 in the mid-1990s, and before that, four in 10,000.
At this time, the Centers for Disease Control estimates that 730,000 individuals, ages 0-21 are diagnosed with an ASD in the United States. The Autism Society of America estimates that one to 1.5 million Americans are living with this disorder. And right here in Washington, it is estimated by the State Department of Health that 8,000 to 12,000 children are diagnosed with ASD, a number that does not even include individuals over the age of 18.
