CDC study finds autism rate higher than past estimates.New federal data on autism autism (ô`tĭzəm), developmental disability resulting from a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain. It is characterized by the abnormal development of communication skills, social skills, and reasoning. in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. found that an average of one in 150 8-year-olds has the disorder, which ranges in severity and often requires life-long interventions. Federal officials said it is not clear whether the incidence of autism is rising or if surveillance and definition of the condition has improved. Previous estimates put autism rates at four to five per 10,000 children. New data released in February was based on a large summary of prevalence data from many U.S. communities participating in an autism spectrum disorder A spectrum disorder in psychiatry is hard to define precisely but is a mental disorder having something to do with a spectrum of subtypes or closely related disorders. The spectrum model is proposed as a more coherent way of understanding psychiatric symptomatology. surveillance project. "Our estimates are becoming better and more consistent, though we can't yet tell if there is a true increase in (autism spectrum disorders) or if the changes are the result of our better studies," said Julie Gerberding, MD, MPH, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), agency of the U.S. Public Health Service since 1973, with headquarters in Atlanta; it was established in 1946 as the Communicable Disease Center. . "We do know, however, that these disorders are affecting too many children." Data from studies conducted in 2000 and 2002 were published in the Feb. 9 issue of CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) is a weekly epidemiological digest for the United States published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The 5 June 1981 issue of the MMWR published the cases of five men in what turned out to be the first report of AIDS. . The 2002 study, which looked at approximately 10 percent of U.S. 8-year-old children born in 1994 from 14 states, found autism rates ranging from one in 303 to one in 94 of the 8-year-olds in those communities. "It's important to note that these studies don't provide a national estimate, but that they do confirm that (autism spectrum disorders) in the areas surveyed are more common in these communities than previously thought," said Marshalyn Yeargin-Allsopp, MD, chief of CDC's autism program. In response to the new data, the National Autism Association The National Autism Association (NAA) is a non-profit advocacy organization founded to educate and empower families affected by autism and other neurological disorders. Research called for CDC See Control Data, century date change and Back Orifice. CDC - Control Data Corporation to treat autism as a national emergency and sponsor research into environmental triggers. "While it's nice that the CDC has shared these findings with the public, they must move forward with a plan to treat the children suffering with autism now," said National Autism Association board chair Claire Brothwell. For more information on the data, visit www. cdc.gov/mmwr. |
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