As if the current CDC figures (1 in every 150 children are diagnosed on the autism spectrum) weren't alarming enough, it seems new studies are pointing to even higher rates. Two separate studies are putting the new figure around 1 in every 100 children -- or 1% of all children..
There are still a lot of unanswered questions regarding these studies, and a comprehensive article on the subject can be found
here. But still, this is huge. This is staggering. So why doesn't anyone seem to care?
To the contrary, it seems that the CDC and other organizations are keeping this new information under wraps. Mainsteam media is not too interested either. So, I guess its up to us to spread the word. Or more importantly, start asking questions.
Why are these numbers going up? Why do some families report children being "cured", while other sources say its not possible? Why are boys being diagnosed at dramatically higher rates?
Vaccines, environmental toxins, genetics, better diagnostic and reporting methods -- these are some of the possible causes. As I've said before, my personal opinion is that this is really complicated -- just like my kids. Finding answers will take time, and yes, lots and lots of money
I just wish the powers that be would be more forthcoming with the information they have, and at the very least feign interest in allocating more resources to autism research and treatment.
Thank you Tina at
Autism Sucks for bringing this to our attention. You can also read her article on the subject
here.
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What are your thoughts on the Autism diagnosis rates rising?
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Comments (2)
Personally, I really think a lot of it is environmental. There are a lot more instances of human generated things that only happened in nature very rarely, or in specific places. Example: electromagnetic fields. Once few and far between and considered practically magical, now they are common place. The same thing can be said for various types of chemicals, plants, etc that have been moved out of their natural enviroment and have adapted to new ones. These things could all quite easily mess with the neurology of a developing human being. I don't think that vaccines are a real cause, perhaps a contributing factor, but the research done that "proved" its causality has been thrown out as unscientific and biased. It was also not "repeatable." Other scientists/studies could not produce the same results as the original study. It also does not explain the occurrance of autism in a child who has not recieved the vaccines, or recieved them AFTER already exhibiting the signs of autism.
Not to mention, the birth rate itself has risen practically exponentially over the last decade. The world population went up from one billion level to the next in less than 12 years... prior to that the billion level movement had taken almost three times that long. So, more people means more instances of everything. In the past 50 years, the diet of the average American has changed DRASTICALLY from what it was prior. The invention of fast food, microwave ovens, frozen dinners, etc. has radically altered our way of eating. The introduction of all sorts of hormones, antibiotic, pesticides, and genetically engineered foods into our diets has also had an impact, which NOBODY talks about.
There are some great sources of information out there that could answer a lot of questions, but the reality is that it is all extremely complex. No one thing can be taken into consideration alone, because nothing exists in a vacuum by itself. This is an interdependent world we live in, where even our "controls" are exposed to things that could alter the results. And in the laws of quantum mechanics, just the mere act of observation changes the results.
I believe that it is due to a better understanding of Autism itself.