WHAT IS AUTISM
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How common is autism? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 20 ), autism affects 1 in individuals nationally and 1 in 3 in New Jersey. The number of children identified with autism has been growing steadily in the last few decades. Some of this increase can be explained by: • more comprehensive research methods (e.g., casting a wider net in health and educational settings and seeking out those who do not have a diagnosis) • accounting for the full spectrum from mild to severe • improved parent and professional awareness • advanced parental age Researchers from the fields of genetics and environmental toxicology continue to investigate other possible reasons why the rate of autism has increased so significantly. Visit www.autismnj.org/prevalence-rates for the most recent prevalence information. What can a diagnostic evaluation not tell me? Diagnostic evaluations provide a wealth of information about an individual’s abilities and limitations. However, even after numerous assessments and medical tests, the cause and prognosis will likely still be unclear. There is considerable variation in the abilities of people with ASD. Some individuals may need extensive, lifelong support to function in home, vocational, and community settings, while others may need intermittent support in fewer areas. While effective and early intervention can greatly improve an individual’s prognosis, as of now, there is no definitive way to know what a person’s level of functioning will be in the future. Thus, the diagnostic evaluation should provide families with the information they need to seek appropriate treatments to address current deficits and teach new skills. Such skills are likely to have a substantial impact on the person’s ability to interact with others and his/her quality of life. With a lot of hard work, individuals with ASD can make tremendous progress.
Resources Management of children with autism spectrum disorders by American Academy of Pediatrics, available at www.pediatrics.org
Learn the signs. Act early. by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, available at www.cdc.gov/actearly
Community report from the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) network. www.cdc.gov
Special thanks to Dr. Audrey Mars who provided input for this section. Dr. Mars is a neurodevelopmental pediatrician at Hunterdon Health Care and a long-time member of Autism New Jersey’s Professional Advisory Board.
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