>> >>JOANNE: That C B C report found that one in 88 children diagnosed with autism.
That's compared to one in 15010 years ago. Joining me are Dr.ﾊEric Courchesne.
Did they find that more kids are being diagnosed or in fact were there more kids being affected
by autism? >> >>: The study didn't make a distinction
between the two. Detected or affected is the big question. The study du does demonstrate
that across the last decade there has been an increase in [inaudible] based on new methodologies.
It also shows autism is a very high incidence or prevalence disorder. One in 88 is masking
that one out of 57 boys will become autistic. They're at high risk. One out of 252 girls
will become autistic. There's a much higher rate or risk among boys than among girls.
The other thing the study shows that's very important is different locals have different
rates. Some locals had rates as low as about four to five per thousand, and other had rates
as high as 21 per thousand. There's a big difference in rates in the locals.
>> >>JOANNE: We understand there's a variety of screening methods you can use in order
to detect autism. Can quow describe some of them briefly?
>> >>: Any time a baby comes in for a routine check up, there's a number of things a good
family practitioner will look for to make sure that whatever that child is they're dedevelopping
at the rate we would expect to see that child. If a child isn't doing the things communication
wise, motor coordation wise that I would expect that child to do, it raises a bit of a red
flag and says we need to look at this a little bit more in detail. There are specific questionnaires
that go along with that. It's a combination of the pediatrician's skill, background and
expertise, but also based on specific questionnaires we go on for every different child.
>> >>JOANNE: We also hear about the spectrum of autism. Are we also finding does this study
sort of tell us or indicate that perhaps there are more conditions of falling under that
spectrum? >> >>: The study shows there's a wide range
of ability among individuals diagnosed with autism. Among those eight years you can see
those with substantial cognitive abilities. But others that have marginal cognitive abilities
that are struggling a little bit and still others that have unfortunate intellectual
disabilities. What holds them together is the disability involving social communication.
The ability to understand another person's pu spective, the ability to reflect and to
portray one's own social and emotional intentions to someone else. That real high order human
social communication ability is what's a problem for children with autism whether they have
higher intellectual abilities, or lower or medium.
>> >>: Dr.ﾊNelson, why is it important to diagnose autism early?
>> >>: It's been clearly shown that children with any developmental dis lay, including
autism, if we can pick up exactly who they are and their problems at a specific age,
& diagnosed at an early age and into treatment, those children span far and ahead above what
the other ones would be. If they get the treatment early, they will show improvement or stability
in where they are in things. Work with your pediatrician, if you have concerns.
>> >>: There isn't a lot of time left ft but I read one article of this study th that this
is now an epidemic f.we keep going in this direction of increasing, the numbers will
be staggering. What do we do about this? >> >>: The high prevalence for autism means
heavy dis manneds for services from babies who need help, need to be identified and into
early treatment programs, through school age, where you have a large number of individuals
that are affect would autism. May have good intellectual capabilities but social understanding
may not be where it needs to be. School services are impacted by a large number of individuals.
What it says is it's really important to what the cause of autism are. Before one starts
talking about anything in the world of the ep disemmic you need to understand what the
causes are. That stillﾊ it's become quite clear it's a disorder that begins in pre natal
life in the vast majority of cases. The second trimester is a crucial period of brain development
when something is going on. That creates a cascade of abnormal function of the brain
that leads to some of the symptoms of autism. What new studies show is that it's not just
about cause, but it's about a developmental lifetime of experience. The brain continues
to change, the opportunities to step in, intervene, and prove the ability of an autistic child
to do bet expr get better continues across a lifetime.
>> >>JOANNE: We're going to have to leave it there. We have a lot more information on
our website, KPBS .org. Doctors thank you have r very much.