Autism?
As awareness about this phenomenon increases, seemingly, more children are being diagnosed with what the world terms autism, now known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In 2021, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported that the rate of autism in the United States of America during 2018 was 1 child in 44.
The incidence according to the ‘criteria’ varies in developed and developing nations. In Europe, France had the lowest prevalence with 69.3 per 10,000 people or 1 in 144 people, followed by Portugal with a rate of 70.5 per 10,000 or 1 in 1421.
Countries that reported high autism rates include the United Kingdom, Japan, USA, Canada, Sweden, the Netherlands, Singapore, Ireland, Brunei, Singapore, and Andorra.
Developing countries, for example China, labelled as a developing country, had a much lower incidence of 1.1 in every 1,000 children..
Yet the methods of diagnosis continue to be weak, amid the range of possible characteristics. So what is really going on? Does autism exist?
Or are we creating an expansive box of different abilities that don’t fit the “norm” as we have defined? And as a result are our children being disadvantaged.
In this series we will be exploring insights from parents, educators, and authorities.
Do post your questions, comments and feedback. You may also participate as a guest on our podcasts, or send in voice-notes to be played and answered on the broadcasts.
The author Dr. Vie has a graduate degree in special education, with years of educating and counseling differently-abled children, including little ones labelled as being autistic. Her humanitarian projects include skills training of differently abled youngsters.
The articles are founded on research, and interviews with educators, parents, “autistic” children and youth, and authorities in the field of natural wellness, autism and brain issues.
good information in first article, thanks. I did not know about gifted children and how food affects children.
I did not know autism is so broad and not really defined. Wonder why it is so heavily diagnosed if it this is the case.