A question about autism statistics?

Question

What authority puts the rate is 1 out of 166?
What forms of autism are included in that rate? PDD-NOS? Rett Syndrome? etc.
What are the stats of the different types of autism separately?
Who thinks the 1 out of 166 stat is bogus? Why?

Please include site.

Thank you.

Compassionate ... you aren't telling me why you think the stats are correct. You assuming they are correct & telling me why you think they are as high as they are.

Answer 1

Part of the confusion is there is "Autism Spectrum Disorder" which includes Asperger's & Retts, PDD-NOS & other types. And then there is "Autism Disorder" which is has more of a strict diagnostic criterium. So when a site refers to a study that estimates that 3.4 of every 1,000 children have autism, is it which is it refering to? The broad term, "Autism Spectrum Disorder" or the narrow term "Autism Disorder"?

Rett Syndrome is 1 out of 10,000 -15,000.
CDD (childhood degenerative disorder) is 2 out of 100,000
Asperger's may be 25 out of 100,000

I'm still looking for PDD-NOS & Autism Disorder rates.

At the rate of 1 out of 166, there would be 600 out of 100,000. Adding Retts (7-10 out of 100,000), CDD (2 out of 100,000), & Asperger's (25 out of 100,000), together comes up with 34 - 37 out of 100,000. So unless AD & PDD-NOS combined totals 565 out of 100,000, the statistics are highly suspect.

In 2003 approximately 141,022 children (or 1 out of 400) were served under the “Autism” classification for special education services. This would not include the high funtioning kids. Most of the kids who would have gone undiagnosed 25 years ago would not be in this group. This would likely include Retts, PDD-NOS, & CDD as well as strict autism.

Answer 2

The CDC has dragged it's feet on admitting that ASDs were on the rise. Ten yrs ago when my son was diagnosed it was 1 per 10,000. Then we heard 1/500, 1/250 and 1/175. The latest is 1 per 166. See the following links http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/asd_common.htm

http://www.nfar.org/Epidemic.aspx

I don't know how it breaks down by autism sub-group. But I believe they do include PDDNOS and Rhett's.

As for the idea of the 1/166 being bogus. Not a chance. I never knew any kids that were autistic when I was a kid and neither did anyone that I know. Now they are everywhere. Combine that with the increase in other diagnosis such as ADHD and it should be pretty clear that something is happening. But just for the sake of discussion, let's say that it was only a shift from another diagnosis. That still would mean that we have an incredible opportunity to help a lot of kids because they have a like diagnosis so many of the strategies should be used. Targeting autism would still be the logical thing to do.

Answer 3

A check of the internet about autism statistics yielded some information explaining how that 1 in 166 number was arrived at. The thing is that different authorities include or exclude a number of conditions thought to be on the autism "spectrum", such as PDD-NOS, Asperger's syndrome, and "classic" autism as first described and named by Kanner. That will change the number, sometimes significantly.

Answer 4

I work with children with autism, and this rate includes PDD/NOS, and Aspergers as well. I really don't think it's bogus. I live in Northern California and these kids are everywhere. Our in home programs have a long waiting list and we are constantly opening new classrooms for these kids. Programming for children with autism is extremely expensive (the home programs cost almost $100,000 a year) and are paid for by the state, so no one would want to diagnose kids who aren't really on the autism spectrum. I've been present for many diagnosis and there are strict guidelines that are followed in our state to diagnose this disorder.

Answer 5

I think it is a right on statistic, and I will tell you why. It used to be that in the old days, Autism was diagnosed in about one in every 500,000 kids...but since the required dose of almost 97 shots was made mandatory by our lovely government, with the insistance of greedy doctors and the medical field who could care less, the statistics are alarmingly true. They claim that the shots are not harmful, but, there has never been so many cases of autism until these mandatory shots, which by the way for the most part are unneccesary,.. became required. They contain mercury, and this stays in the brain of a developing childs mind...this is atrocious, and if you don't believe me, read this..
http://www.rense.com/general60/fourof7fluUKshots.htm for a beginning...then just put in..."shots causing autism." I have even written to my governor, because this is horrible. My son refused to give his daughter any shots...he challenged the doctor, would you pay me for the medical bills if she gets autism? the doctor said he could not promise the shots would not give her the ailment. Please read on Google, you will be amazed..and our government does not care. IN ADDITION to answer your original question..I have talked to many people, including my sister in law who is a top nurse at a hospital here...who also agrees with the stats...and I have two little nephews who also took the shots and have it, with no other member of the family who is autistic...I know that with the required shots, it is not at all surprizing to me that the stats are correct. I even think it is worse, to tell you the truth. I hope you go to the website, or to Google, because you cannot believe the information about the shots that the greedy pharmacuetical companies are demanding with our government that children take. Good luck..I hope that explained my stance a little better. WAIT a better update...http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Autism_Facts this is pretty accurate also...i have to check the date of the article, hope this helps you...I checked, and that was in 2003, so I can say I think the statistic is pretty right on....and actually, the stats were reported in 2003, and taken even earlier. It is from the Autistic society of america..

Answer 6

The exact number of children with Autism is not known, but estimates suggest that roughly 1 in 1,000 children are affected. Autism affects boys 3 to 4 times more often than girls. Family income, education, and lifestyle do not seem to affect the risk of autism.

Answer 7

I can't agree or disagree with that stat. it seems quite probable, but there is such a Broad spectrum of autism that it'd be impossible to create a usable statistic.
I've heard that number before, but I've also heard that EVERYBODY is somewhat autistic, it's all just the level of it. Most of us jsut have very little.

Answer 8

http://www.daylon.com/autism/

There's a link to a paper I wrote on the topic during my senior year in college. Hope it's somewhat helpful