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Autism/statistics on autism and apsergers

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Expert: - 8/2/2008


Question
Can you ascertain approx. how many people worldwide have autism and
Aspergers?  How about in the United States? Australia? Europe? Mexico?
Thanks for your help.
Jeannette

Answer
The most typical stats you hear these days are 1:150 in the United States but 1:94 boys.

I recently read a stat that talked about 1:100 in Australia (http://www.autismnsw.com.au/Mediacentre/Onein100Reasons.asp)

If you go to the following site, you can click on the links that give information on autism in various countries around the world:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epidemiology_of_autism

The numbers reflect only those who have contacted medical centers for formal diagnosis. There may be many others with autism spectrum disorders who have not received a diagnosis. This is especially true of older people with high functioning autism or Asperger's.

The increased numbers may represent an actual increase in the prevalence of autism. They may also reflect better awareness and better diagnostic criteria (before the early 90's it was rare for people to have even heard of Asperger's, let alone receive that diagnosis). Also, in recent years there many more people have received a dual diagnosis. Previously a child might receive a diagnosis of mental retardation or Down's Syndrome but now the diagnosis might be Down's and autism.

There's a good article by the American Center for Disease Control on the difference between incidence and prevalence that might interest you: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/faq_prevalence.htm

Sharon A. Mitchell, B.A., B.Ed., M.A.
www.autismsite.ca  

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Dr. Sharon A. Mitchell

Expertise

Sharon can help with parenting and educational concerns. She has worked in teaching, special education, counseling and consultingfor over thirty years and gives workshops to educators and parents on working with kids with autism spectrum disorders. Sharon speaks from both the education and parent points of view, having a son with Asperger's.

Experience

Sharon is a special education consultant with a school district and autism consult for the province's Department of Education, giving workshops and individual consults. She is also the parent of a son with Asperger's who is away at university. Together they have a website at http://www.autismsite.ca that offers strategies for home and school. Sharon's Master's thesis looked at the long-term outlook for persons with high functioning autism and Asperger's. Her Doctorate focused on strategies to help those with autism spectrum disorders

Organizations
Website at http://www.autismsite.ca and sits on Autism Today's Panel of Experts (www.autismtoday.com)

Publications
Author of "School Daze" ebook - a novel about autism, available on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/School-Daze-ebook/dp/B0085HN9HQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337999263&sr=8-1). Download a free sample at http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/156913. Co-author of Amazon.com bestseller, The Official Autism 101 Manual (http://autism101manual.com/).

Education/Credentials
B.A. in Psychology, B.Ed. in Special Education, M.A. in Educational Leadership PhD. in Psychology Management, specializing in autism.

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