Autism is a disorder characterized by impaired communication and social interaction, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. The diagnosis requires that the symptoms in the child become apparent before the child reaches 3 years old.

Research study about autism

A recent survey carried out by the government which targeted various parents from different ages, societal class and race showed that 1 in 50 U.S children have autism. This has surpassed the previous survey released by the former government that said that 1 in 88 U.S children had autism. One major detail that was forgotten in most surveys that were carried out in the past is that they relied on school and medical records rather than on reliable information given out by parents.

Details explanation of autism

In early years kids with autism were faced with severe challenges such as poor coordination of speech, language understanding, social and intellectual impairments and repetitive, unusual and unpredictable behaviors. This however changed in the modern society and this is attributed mainly to better understanding of the disease. Medical intervention at the early stages of this condition has also made the condition be mild.

The new estimates released by the Centre for disease Control and Prevention shows that averagely 1 million children in the US are autistic.

The number given is important to different stake holders but mainly the government. It is this data that the government officials use to determine how common certain illnesses and disorders are. This is the information which will in turn guide them on how to allocate public health funds. This implies that if a research survey carried out brings out wrong data estimates; the entire is sector will receive fewer funds as a result of the errors.

The CDC officials said that they contacted more than 95,000 parents in the years 2011 and 2012 but less than a quarter of the contacted parents agreed to answer the questions. This showed that parents with autistic kids were the ones who were more interested to participate in the survey compared to other parents. The willingness is a positive pointer to the way parents and guardians view autism in general.

Stephen Blumberg, the CDC report’s lead author said that this survey gives an overview of the number of families in the US tormented by this disorder. The previous survey that showed 1 in 88 kids were autistic was done in 14 states only and focused on children who were below 8 years old. The data itself were projections from back in 2008.

Although experts believe that most diagnoses are made when the child is 8 years old, doctors have been striving to detect autism at younger ages. There is no definite way of prognosing autism, not even through biological or blood tests; autism is easily identified through the behaviors of the child.