Focus on the Social Aspect of Autism.
Joanna Kałużna-Czaplińska, Ewa Żurawicz, Jagoda Jóźwik-Pruska
PMID 29188587WHAT IT FOUND
In US children, autism is reported in 14.6 per 1000; most are identified after age 4, and families face high care costs and lost income.
Social communication differences are the defining clinical feature.
Key findings
01Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, plus restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.
02US data released in 2016 reported ASD prevalence of 14.6 per 1000 children, or 1 in 68.
03Children with ASD have medical expenditures 3 to 9 times higher than other children.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
This is a narrative review, not an original study, and the article does not describe how papers were searched or selected. Prevalence estimates come from different countries, years, and diagnostic criteria, so they cannot be compared as if they measure the same thing. The review says changes in criteria, research methods, and awareness may explain much of the apparent increase in prevalence. Cost figures come from different countries, age ranges, and cost categories, so they do not represent one common spending level. Most reports concern children aged 3 to 17, and the review says care for adults with ASD is poorly described. It does not test whether any therapy improves outcomes.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat the rising prevalence numbers as proof that autism is becoming more common in the same way everywhere. The review says changes in criteria, research methods, and awareness may explain much of the apparent increase.