Is Autism at epidemic proportions?

I was told by a psychiatrist at the Cleveland Clinic that in 1980, the ratio of people having autism was 1 in 2000. This same psychiatrist also advised me as of July 2007 the ratio was 1 in 93. Families are loosing everything due to this disease. No insurance in the world will cover treatments/medicines to aid in the rehabilitation of the effects of this disease. It's ironic. If these children were dying, the government would step right in and find the money somewhere to try and find a way to cure this disease. But...the children aren't dying..so the government does nothing..except make these committees. To talk about what this disease is doing to our children, to our future. I've seen it first hand. My first born son was diagnosed as autistic. I was very skeptical at first..but I finally had to accept the fact that my son was autistic. I will do whatever I can to help my son..but I can only do so much. I, we, all the parents of autistic children need help. Stop autism now!

The ratio is probably the same, it's just that in the past there were fewer tests and ways that we could test for Autistic signatures in children. Most people on the Autism Spectrum were merely referred to as "odd" or "socially unacceptable". Unfortunately, these unique individuals were outcasted because they were "different". I have to say too that calling Autism a "disease" is offensive, and can be hurtful to your child when they understand the meaning of the word "disease". To even call Autism a disability is disheartening. Some of the most revered artists, genious minds, and inventors were on the Autism Spectrum, and I highly doubt they would be referred to as "diseased" or "disabled". For expample, Vincent van Gogh, Albert Einstein, Emily Dickenson, and Edgar Allen Poe.
You don't need insurance to go to the library and read and learn all you can, and try new things, making schedules, keeping a backpack of meltdown preventers, and just talking to your child, even if you think what they say doesn't necessarily make much sense. There's where you begin.
I do agree that the government doesn't do as much as they could for Autism, but rather than looking for a cure for Autism, let's learn and do what we can to teach our children to live with some of the effects of Autism and have a happy and functional life? There is no cure that is better than having a child with something so difficult to live with, yet having a happy, fulfilling life?
If you want to do what you can to help your son, celebrate the fact that he's different. ENABLE him, not disable him. Tell him that you are SO GLAD he's not boring. That he's not typical. That his mind and imagination and the things he says are humorous and interesting. That's the most important step in overcoming Autism, is to know that they have bright futures, and not accepting that they don't.

I am so glad that my answer helped you in any way. Your son IS so special. If you ever want any advice, please check out my Yahoo group. Whether or not you are in Arkansas, it still helps to talk. It's called Aspergers Arkansas in Yahoo groups! Cya there!!! Report It

Not really. I think that it has always been at these levels but simply was not identified as such until now. You can`t stop it but you can teach and work with your child to help them have a good and productive life. Good luck and God Bless.

I've read that a lot of kids being dx'd autistic nowadays are only being called that b/c the "spectrum" of what is considered autistic was expanded in recent years. This is not to dismiss the epidemic of true autistics -- I agree with you that it is terrifying. But there is that one element. I also read that many people believe childhood vaccinations are responsible for it b/c many have a preservative called thimerisol, which is a form of mercury. The reason why this effect is happening now and not in the previous generation is that sometime around 1990, the number of vac's. doubled so kids got huger amounts of mercury all at once and it was too much for their systems. Nowadays there are vaccinations without thimerisol available. I have also read that many kids with autism have been shown to have a miraculous recovery of some symptoms if they follow a celiac diet (avoiding gluten). Apparently there is some extreme gluten sensitivity in some autistic kids but parents report that after changing the diet, it's like a whole different kid. I wish you all the best with your son.

autism isnt an epidemic disease,its at a prevalence of 1-2%in U.S.A. regarding health care and more awareness ,its increasing but you hvae to fight your battle with health insurance coverage and companies ,its the results of the system flaws who dont want to treat just gain profits

A friend of mine has TWO of her three children with autism. I think that is very unusual. She has had difficulty getting help for these girls. Her son, the youngest, is "normal". It makes me wonder if their vaccines had anything to do with it, or if there is something in the water? We live by a very polluted river. My brother has aspergers, which is a form of autism....I think it is increasing in prevalence. It's scarey.

I definitely think Autism it's at epidemic proportions!

Autism has increased over 1500% (15 times) within just the last 10 years. Ten years ago 1 in 2500 children were diagnosed, while today 1 in 89 children are diagnosed.

The incidence of autism in California increased 273 percent from 1987 to 1998, and a growing number of medical professionals are questioning the FDA's vaccine safety tests.

A few decades ago the infant vaccine schedule consisted of 7 to 8 separate vaccines. Today the schedule is 36 vaccines by the time this children turn 2. It is common practice to for a baby to receive 3 and 4 vaccines in one doctor's visit.

Massive vaccination without checking this children for immune deficiencies, is criminal!

Is Autism linked to Genetics? I don't have to be scientist to know that Genetics don't cause epidemics.

If more kids are getting autism then there kids are being kidnapped or getting cancer, or being diagnosed with down syndrome, why doesn't the CDC and the FDA want to call it an epidemic? Could they have something to hide?

If you want your insurance to pay for medical testing--never put autism as a diagnosis. PPO's have a better reputation to pay for ABA therapy, for example. You can always appeal the decision and get advice from your local autism support group.
My son is autistic and I use DAN protocol (Defeat Autsim NOW) for his treatment and its working. You can find a list of DAN dr. , surveys from parents on drugs/supplements, and lots of good autism information at the Autism Research Institute..
Don't expect the government to admit to any wrong doing, They only removed thimersol after someone pointed out the total amount of mercury that a child's receives exceeded their own recommendations. One of the reasons autism is on the rise is better diagnosis. This doesn't explain the dramatic rise in "regressive" autism. Its being caused by an unknown genetic defect ( spontaneous mutation in some cases) and kids born with these "mutations" cannot handle the toxic exposure present in our environment. There is a genetic test available ( costs $3,000) to identify the defects in the genes.
The latest research on autistic brains shows a "normal" size brain at birth and an abnormal growth spurt occurring before the first birthday. There also is a link between the immune system and the brain. A 3 yr. old boy had a brain size of a 7 yr. old!!! I pretty sure the amount of vaccines given to babies has disrupted the natural brain development. Vaccines are known to contain neurotoxic compounds. The brain continues to develop after birth. You will see an abnormality in parts of the brain responsible for speech, face recognition, etc., decrease blood flow to the brain, and inflammation. This is why parents report their kids developed normally and then regressed. The abnormal brain growth is responsible and what "triggered" this is under research. Anti inflammatory drugs can help but are under research. A few DAN dr.'s have used this approach with limited success.
Hyperbariac oxygen treatment (HBOT) can help autistic kids with brain abnormalities. It forces oxygen under pressure into the brain. This increases blood flow inside of the brain, raises oxygen levels, reduces inflammation, decreases oxidative stress ( using 1.3 - 1.5 ATM), and increases the number of stem cells. This treatment is still undergoing research and is very expensive. My own DAN Dr. has used this successfully to treat his autistic children. You can check for the brain abnormalites using a PET or SPECT. Ask your neurologist for help.
Autism is treatable. Autism ( developmental disorders) is going to have a negative effect on our economy. What is going to happen to all those kids when they become adults?
The lower functioning adults will be on disablility. Its very important to pressure the government to fund extensive therapy treatments for our kids now. President Bush vetoed a bill to increase funding for autism. Hilary Clinton is promising huge funding for autism. Before you vote on your next president, make sure you pay close attention to funding for autism and other programs for the mentally and physically challenged. It was an eye- opener for me when my son attended a school for disabled children.

It seems the epidemic is just the ignorance of the Post Rain Man Era. Pre Rain Man folks have figured out a wonderful never in print before thought process that explains everything from Einstein to Dyslexia and connects MR-DD to Autism to even a normal life. Our Thoughts happen during the lack of eye contact when Our Optic Vision is OFF and replaced with the brain generated images we think with. IF WE figured out this thought process it mimics normal thought just like you use.

Modern Autism Really did forget and has buried the all the crypto Sensitive facts it once knew and thus forgetting 1/2 the facts really did make for an epidemic of good intentions that went astray. Now that were in Rain Mans Curse were all stuck in the designer autism crisis of recent times and all of mankind is suffering for it.

Rich SHull Inventor of the Truing Motor and Author of the BANNED autism Book Autism Pre Rain Man Autism built on Temples Thinking in Pictures.