Is autism a problem around the world?

Question

Is autism a problem around the world?

Answer 1

Autism is everywhere.  It may be under diagnosed in some areas, over diagnosed in others, but it is indeed everywhere.

Answer 2

No,We cant say that it is a problem around the WORLD.Its found in some places.As in India(I am a resident) less than .01% have autism.

Answer 3

Yes autism appears around the world. The US and Europe seem to have much higher rates of autsim, but much of that is attributed to having strong education and health services programs available to just about everyone.  Countries that offer programs similar to the Child FInd program in US schools and where kids have realtively easy and frequent access to health care tend to identify kids on the spectrum early, including kids on the high funtioning end (Asperger's), an area of the spectrum that can often go undiagnoses until a child is well into their school years (and as recently as 30 years ago, often not at all).  Also, it is believed that some cultures and countries have lower rates because of cultural issues surrounding children with special needs or handicaps.  Add in that many countries that do have strong health care and educational systems do not have strong special ed programs...Japan being one that pops to mind.  Services for children with autism are very limited in Japan, even in a city as large as Tokyo.  There are still some culutural feelings or stigmas assoiciated with special needs children (we lived in Japan for 7 years and you rarely saw anyone with special needs or even just in a wheel chair in public..the country is not handicapped accessible in most areas) even in such an international nation and very little is down in the way of public awareness campaigns.  Countries with large scale problems in education and healthcare report  very few cases of autism, but most world health orginizations feel it is simply because many of the children are never seen or diagnosed.

I will agree that even among countries with similiar education and health care availability (Canada, Great Britton, Switzerland) the US has signifigantly higher rates of autism.  It could be that as a country once we tend to know about an issue, we use that awareness more than other countries.  It could be that the US tends to overdiagnosis in some areas, especially when it comes to pediatric issues...better safe than sorry.  As the parent of child with autism, I do feel that it is better to get the child in treatment and in educational settings appropriate to that child's needs and later find out they are no longer needed than to take a "wait and see" and possibly loose valuable time (early intervention is key in autism).

Answer 4

It depends, what is your definition of "problem"?  Read the book, "Unstrange Minds" by Roy Grinker.   In some countries, it is diagnosed as mental retardation  and nothing more. That does not mean that is right, just goes to show what happens when there is not enough information. In rural areas, people with autism can do better!

Answer 5

Yes, autism appears in all the countries of the world. The rates are thought to be 10-17%, though autism is not reported by some countries that are involved in civil war or war in general.

Though some of the usual thinking is that autism is caused by immunizations, there is very little research to support this thinking. What is known to be true is that it has a strong genetic component. That is why it appears world wide, though some countries recognize it more than others.

Answer 6

has anyone else noticed that there's more media focus around autism?  There's commericals on tv, I saw three news stories on how to see early signs of autism in your baby, and I see commericals for the charity

Answer 7

All of them that shoot 36 vaccinations in their kids will see an increase. Its currently worse in the UK than here already. Australia, China, Demark have all seen increases.

Vaccines are causing the huge increase in DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS.

It is astounding to see so many ill informed posters acting like they know what their talking about. Totally buying the c**p fed to them by the CDC and the vaccine producers. Their ignorance places us all in danger. Their inability to question what is happening right in front of them is a poor commentary on our educational system. Perhaps their brains have been afffected by live viruses and mercury and mutated aborted human DNA they have been shot up with.

http://www.generationrescue.org/

http://www.909shot.com/

http://www.know-vaccines.org/faq.html

http://educate-yourself.org/vcd/howenste...

Answer 8

Extrapolated numbers at

http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/a/autism/s...

The problem with extrapolated numbers is that they take a percentage of the population, count how many autists are in the population and then assume that the ratio is the same for the general population. Fact is, it doesn't take into account location, medical treatments, severity or type of autistic symptom (say Rett's syndrome versus mercury poisoning for example, which can be found in heavily polluted areas) or accuracy of diagnosis.

Answer 9

YES it is

Answer 10

check out this site...

http://teacch.com/info_primer.html#5

5. Who is affected with autism?

Autism is distributed throughout the world among all races, nationalities, and social classes. Four of every five people with autism are male.