Is autism really on the increase, or is it mostly a matter of improved and maybe inaccurate diagnosis?

Answer 1

A little of both. When you hear people claim autism has increased 60 fold or more, they are comparing old, underestimated rates with the modern, more complete rates.

I think my neice would have been labeled "brain damaged" or "retarded" 50 years ago. I suspect many family doctors wouldn't label a child autistic because family doctors back then actually knew the families. Autism used to be blamed on uncaring mothers and if a doctor knew the mother was loving, he would rule out autism.

Add to that the fact that in the late 80s or early 90s, "Asperger's" was added to the spectrum. Currently, about 60 - 88% of all kids diagnosed with autism have Asperger's. These kids would have just been labelled "odd", 30 years ago.

BUT a recent study from the M.I.N.D. institute supports the idea that even when you take into consideration all the factors I've listed above, there still seems to be an increase. Not 600% increase. More like a 50 to 100% increase.

Answer 2

Anytime there is a change in criteria that defines a condition, there will be a spike in cases initially. Since the diagnostic criteria has been updated not so long ago, more kids fell into the category as well as older adults who went undiagnosed because they didn't fit all the criteria. The spike is what we are seeing now. It will level off in a few years and reflect a more accurate number.

Answer 3

It could be some of both.
In the past these kids were considered to be Mentally retarded.Many were hidden from the outside world.

Autism is a brain disorder.

Answer 4

it's being diagnosed much more frequently now, because of new evaluations and new disability definitions. it used to be labeled mental retardation or childhood schizophrenia, and since it has become its own label, it is being more accurately diagnosed.