Autism Rate Higher Than in Past Decades

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http://www.mercola.com/2003/jan/15/autism_rate.htm

 

Autism Rate Higher Than in Past Decades

 

 

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More children are being diagnosed with autism than in the past, according to a

new study of 289,456 children between the ages of 3 and 10 years in Atlanta.

 

Autism, characterized by social isolation, difficulty communicating, repetitive

behaviors and delayed and unusual speech, affected 34 out of every 10,000

children in the study.

 

This rate, though consistent with those of recent studies, was higher than rates

found in earlier studies conducted in the 1980s and early 1990s. Only four

similar studies have been conducted in the United States to date. Three earlier

studies found that about four per 10,000 children had autism, while a study in

1998 found that 40 per 10,000 children have autistic disorder with the number

increasing to 67 per 10,000 if all types of autism-like behavior are included.

 

According to researchers, there is a greater public awareness of the disorder

and the symptoms associated with it, which may be one contributing factor to the

increased rates of autism. Another reason may be the addition of autism as a

condition for special education services.

 

However, researchers remain uncertain of whether environmental, immunologic,

genetic or other factors are contributing to the increased rates of autism.

 

JAMA January 1, 2003;289:49-55

 

 

 

 

DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT:

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It is good to see that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control is finally

officially acknowledging that we may be in the midst of an autism epidemic. This

new report from the CDC finds that the number of autistic children living in the

Atlanta region is high, 3.4 per thousand, which is consistent with the more

recent surveys. However, this study was actually a survey and all the data was

obtained through analysis of records; no children were seen directly.

 

Previously, traditional medical experts would claim that this increase was an

artifact of improved diagnosis. This is the classic traditional approach, but

you don’t need a degree in advanced pediatric neurology to diagnose a child with

autism. An autistic child’s behavior can usually be diagnosed by most people in

a busy airport.

 

You can review the most comprehensive study that I am aware of on the epidemic

of autism, done by the MIND Institute in California: Report to the Legislature

on the Principal Findings from The Epidemiology of Autism in California: A

Comprehensive Pilot Study)

 

The study, led by Dr. Robert S. Byrd, section chief of pediatrics at the

University of California at Davis Children's Hospital, issued its report on

August 17, 2002. It concludes there is " no evidence that loosening in diagnostic

criteria contributed to an increase in the number of children with autism,” and

that, therefore, " some, if not all, of the observed increase represents a true

increase in cases of autism. "

 

What does this mean? This research provides a rigorous benchmark for the

prevalence of autism in a large metropolitan area, Atlanta, within the United

States. Rates in Atlanta are consistent with other recent studies, and differ

from those in previous decades.

 

The CDC researchers have documented an over 1,000 percent increase in the last

10 years, but these statistics still terribly underestimate the true number of

children affected with this illness. At least one in every 175 children now has

autism. Please check the links below for more accurate information.

 

Fortunately, there are some effective strategies for treating children with

autism. I have treated many hundreds of children with autism and am quite

confident that a severe restriction of grains and sugars produces a profound

improvement in the brain injury that accompanies this illness.

 

Many parents recognize that a gluten- and casein-free diet is important and

frequently provides benefit. However, this is only a small portion of the

dietary changes that are required. It is quite common for many children to

follow a gluten- and casein-free program and receive only minimal or no

improvement.

 

This is largely related to the fact that they are consuming other grains or

grain-like starches such as potatoes, rice and corn. However, once the child

rigidly follows the nutrition plan there is quite a profound improvement in the

disease.

 

The new modification of the nutrition plan includes generous portions of cod

liver oil that has incredibly beneficial omega-3 fats, vitamin D and the natural

(cis) form of vitamin A, which seems to provide an independent benefit in many

children with autism.

 

There is a limited window of opportunity for improvement with autism though. The

best results are seen when the program of severe grain restriction is

implemented before the age of three. After three the likelihood of complete

recovery seems to progressively decrease. That does not mean that the diet plan

should not be used, it just suggests that the improvement may be less

significant.

 

Diet changes are only one of a number of adjunctive therapies that are useful in

treating autism. There are many behavioral approaches that work synergistically

with an optimized nutrition program.

 

Related Articles:

 

The US Autism Epidemic is Out of Control

 

Autism Epidemic Soars in America

 

Autism 2001: The Silent Epidemic

 

 

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