Autism at a record high

[Guest guest]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=3955\

67 & in_page_id=1770

 

The true scale of childhood autism in Britain is far higher than previously

thought, researchers have found.

 

A new study shows a record rate of autism disorders, which now affect more than

one in 100 children.

 

But the figures could be the tip of the iceberg because they do not include a

rising number of hyperactivity and behavioural problems such as ADHD.

 

Special report: Living with autism

 

Researchers at Guy's and St Thomas's Hospitals, London, believe some of the

increase is due to better awareness of autism disorders and improved diagnosis.

 

However, other experts claim the rise is linked with environmental factors

ranging from vaccines - including the controversial MMR jab - to pesticides,

which affect children with a genetic predisposition to autism.

 

A possible link between the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, autism and bowel

disorders - which deterred many parents from getting their children immunised -

has been consistently challenged by later research findings and the Department

of Health.

 

D Paul Shattock, co-founder of the Autism Research Unit at Sunderland

University, said he had a list of a dozen possibilities driving the increase.

 

He said 'These include increasing use of pesticides, antibiotics, vaccines and

diet. Jamie Oliver succeeded in drawing attention to children's diets and we

need to look at what pregnant women are eating.

 

'There is a changing pattern in autism and these factors will interact

differently with genetic vulnerability today compared with 40 years ago.

 

'This study by a greatly respected team confirms a rising trend.

 

'We accept asthma and peanut allergy is affecting more children and as the brain

is the most sensitive organ in the body, changes in the environment are very

likely to have such an impact.'

 

The new research published on Friday in The Lancet medical journal mirrors a

rise in diagnosis of autism in other developed countries.

 

Autism is an umbrella term for a range of developmental disorders that have a

lifelong effect on someone's ability to interact socially and communicate.

 

There are related problems, known as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), which

include Asperger's syndrome, which also result in special teaching needs.

 

Until the 1990s the figure of four or five cases of autism per 10,000 people was

widely accepted - going up to 20 cases if typical ASD problems were included -

but there has been growing evidence and anecdotal reports that the true level is

substantially higher.

 

Child health expert Professor Gillian Baird and colleagues examined rates of

ASDs among nine and 10-year-olds living in south London.

 

From a group of 57,000 children, her team identified 255 already diagnosed as

having autistic disorders and 1,515 judged to be possible undetected cases based

on their teaching needs.

 

A randomly selected sub-group of 255 children were chosen for in-depth clinical

assessment. The prevalence of 'classic' childhood autism was 39 per 10,000, and

that of other ASDs 77 per 10,000.

 

In total, autistic disorders affected 116 per 10,000 children - which is about

one in 86. Prof Baird said the study showed a much higher prevalence than

previously thought, saying it did not include children with Attention Deficit

Hyperactivity Disorder.

 

She said 'Whether the increase is due to better ascertainment, broadening

diagnostic criteria, or increased incidence is unclear.

 

'We know autism is highly genetic but this does not rule out environmental

influences and some researchers are looking at testosterone levels in the

pre-natal period.

 

'Services in health, education, and social care will need to recognise the needs

of children with some form of ASD, who constitute one per cent of the child

population' she added.

 

Prof Baird said parents wanted more investigation of possible treatments,

including the use of gluten free and other diets, but her team had failed to

find funding for a trial.

 

Dr Shattock said basic genetic research was important but more effort should be

put into testing which interventions helped children diagnosed with autism,

including diet.

 

Mike Collins, of the National Autistic Society (NAS), the UK's leading charity

for people with autism, said 'This research underlines the importance of

appropriate services for individuals with autism.

 

'Current provision for those with the disability is deeply inadequate given the

scale of the need.

 

'Government and local authorities must ensure that education, health and social

services are adequately funded and all staff appropriately trained in order to

meet the needs of those living with the disability and their families. 'Autism

is a lifelong disability and when an individual's needs are not met the long

term consequences both financially and for the individual's well being are

profound.'