NeuroDiversity Consulting LLC
  • Home
    • Our Mission
    • Events
    • Contact Us
  • Autism Attitude
  • Community
    • Stronger Together
    • Race and Disability

CDC Prevalence Estimates and ASD Epidemic

8/22/2014

0 Comments

 
This is a follow up to a previous post, Understanding CDC Prevalence Estimates.

It is a popular misconception that there is a growing autism epidemic in the US based in part on the changing prevalence numbers reported by the CDC. But given that the CDC is monitoring a sample of those most likely to develop autism one cannot make the claim that there is an epidemic. To the contrary, it is still unclear how many autistic people there are. The most accurate conclusion that can be drawn about the size of the population of autistic individuals using the changing CDC prevalence data is that more of the children most likely to have a developmental disorder at the ADDM sites are being diagnosed and receiving treatment.

So what can the CDC prevalence numbers tell us if they can’t be generalized to the whole population? Plenty. First, we see that race and ethnicity influences identifying ASD and also IQ placement. Second, while it is established in the scientific literature that ASD can be diagnosed as early as 12 months of age it is more commonly identified at 53 months. This suggests that something is causing a delay in diagnosis. Third, boys are still more often diagnosed than girls. Fourth, despite developmental concerns being noted for a number of the children seen at the monitoring sites these concerns did not always generate a comprehensive evaluation for the child in question.

What can parents take away from this discussion of CDC prevalence numbers? Take a second critical look at those making claims about there being an epidemic of autism because, frankly, the numbers available to us do not support such claims. If you as a parent have concerns about your child’s developmental progress push for a comprehensive evaluation of your child. Don’t be put off or take a wait and see approach.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    504 Plan
    ABLE 2.0
    ABLE Act 2014
    ACE
    Aspergers
    Autism
    Autism Acceptance
    Autism Advisory Board
    Autism Awareness
    Autism Spectrum Disorder
    Autistic Adults
    Autistic Children
    Behavior Intervention Plan
    BIP
    Church
    Cure
    Diagnosis
    Diet
    Disability
    Discipline
    Diy
    Dsm
    Education
    Education Law
    Encouragement
    Epidemic
    Estate Planning
    Faith
    FBA
    Functional Behavioral Assessment
    Homeschooling
    IDEA
    IEP
    Incidence
    Inclusion
    Laws
    Long Term Care
    Mental Health
    Neurodevelopmental Disorder
    Neurodiversity
    New York
    Nha
    Nurtured Heart Approach
    Parenting
    PDD NOS
    PDD-NOS
    Person/people First Language
    Policy
    Prevalence
    Prevention
    Relativism
    Research
    Resilience
    School
    Science
    Sex
    Social Isolation
    Special Education Law
    Special Needs
    Suspension
    Trauma
    Treatment

    Archives

    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    May 2020
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    December 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    January 2016
    August 2015
    June 2015
    February 2015
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    September 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    November 2012
    July 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    November 2011
    October 2011
    August 2011

      RSS Feed

    NeuroDiversity Consulting LLC
    info@neurodiversityconsulting.org

    (315) 760-4358
     Privacy Policy
    Business Credit
    Business Credit by Nav
    Photo used under Creative Commons from Hayzphotos
    • Home
      • Our Mission
      • Events
      • Contact Us
    • Autism Attitude
    • Community
      • Stronger Together
      • Race and Disability