Do you know the 14 Key Facts About ASD?
Facts about ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder)
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), facts about (ASD) autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disability that impact the normal development of the brain in the areas of social interaction, communication skills, cognitive function and behavioral challenges.
A diagnosis of ASD now includes several conditions that used to be diagnosed separately: autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), and Asperger syndrome. These conditions are now all called autism spectrum disorder.
- There is often nothing about how people with ASD look that sets them apart from other people.
- ASD impacts The learning, thinking, and problem-solving abilities of people with ASD can range from gifted to severely challenged. Some people with ASD need a lot of help in their daily lives; others need less.
- According to National Autism Association (NAA), Individuals with ASD may suffer from numerous co-morbid medical conditions which may include: asthma, allergies, digestive disorders, epilepsy, feeding disorders, sensory integration, sleeping disorders, etc.
- Currently there is no cure for autism, though with early intervention and treatment, the diverse symptoms related to autism can be greatly improved and in some cases completely overcome.
Facts about ASD along with Stats according to NAA and CDC
- Autism Spectrum Disorder now affects 1 in 68 children
- ASD is diagnosed four times more often in boys than girls. Its prevalence is not affected by region, race, or socio-economic status
- Research has shown that a diagnosis of autism at age 2 can be reliable, valid, and stable.
- About 1 in 6 children in the United States had a developmental disability in 2006-2008, ranging from mild disabilities such as speech and language impairments to serious developmental disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, and autism
- Among identical twins, if one child has ASD, then the other may be affected about 36-95% of the time. In non-identical twins, if one child has ASD, then the other may be affected about 0-31% of the time
- ASD greatly varies from person to person (no two people with ASD are alike)
- Parents who have a child with ASD have a 2%–18% chance of having a second child who is also affected
- About 40% of children with ASD do not speak. About 25%–30% of children with autism have some words at 12 to 18 months of age and then lose them. Others might speak, but not until later in childhood
- The rate of autism has steadily grown over the last twenty years
- Autism is the fastest growing developmental disorder, yet most underfunded
- Almost half (46%) of children identified with ASD has average to above average intellectual ability.
- A 2008 Danish Study found that the mortality risk among those with autism was nearly twice that of the general population
- The total costs per year for children with ASD in the United States were estimated to be between $11.5 billion – $60.9 billion (2011 US dollars). This significant economic burden represents a variety of direct and in-direct costs, from medical care to special education to lost parental productivity.
- In addition to medical costs, intensive behavioral interventions for children with ASD cost $40,000 to $60,000 per child per year
Noted above are the 14 key facts related to ASD, as more research become available additional facts will be added. In closing, remember to share this post on social media and read more related articles.
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/facts.html; http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html
National Autism Association (NAA): http://nationalautismassociation.org/resources/autism-fact-sheet/
