In recent years, the diagnosis of "autism" has begun to make much more often. This gave rise to fear that we are dealing with a new epidemic. However, experts reassure: an increase in the number of cases is not a consequence of the disease, but changes in diagnosis.
New criteria are new statistics
Until the 1980s, the term "autistic spectrum disorders" (RAC) did not exist at all. And autism was interpreted very narrowly - only as severe, noticeable violations. Because of this, the diagnosis was made only to individual patients. Many children with mild races were considered simply "strange" or ignored.
Expanding the criteria for diagnosis and awareness of society has led to the fact that there are many more cases today, including girls and minority representatives - groups that have almost not been covered by research.
In the US, according to official statistics, every 31st child is diagnosed with autism spectrum. The same growth is recorded in Australia, Taiwan and other countries.
Genetics or the environment?
Most experts agree: autism has a strong genetic component. Studies show that heredity explains up to 80% of cases. If one of the identical twins has autism, the other is also likely to find this condition.
However, genetics is not the only explanation. Scientists investigate additional factors: premature birth, low weight at birth, age of parents, diabetes in the mother, as well as the impact of the environment - in particular pesticides and air pollution. But the direct causal relationship between these factors and autism has not yet been proven.
What really scares?
"We are not frightened by autism, but the lack of a support system for such people," says Zoe Gross from Asan. It is supported by Shannon Rose. They emphasize that society is still not sufficiently adapted to the needs of people in the spectrum of autism.
People with autism have always been among us. But only recently did we begin to see them, understand and recognize them. And this is not an epidemic, but a step forward.
