PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release: December 18, 2009	Contact: Lori McIlwain, NAA (Cary, NC) 919-741-1646 Wendy Fournier, NAA (Portsmouth, RI) 401-835-5828

New CDC Study Shows Average Autism Prevalence Up 57% From Previous Study

Nixa, MO –  A study out today puts autism rates at one in 110, echoing a similar October 2009 report from Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which showed that one in 91 children (one in 58 boys) in the United States is now diagnosed with autism.

Today’s study, conducted by the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network office of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), looked at eight-year-old children from 2006. A previous study released by ADDM in 2002 showed autism spectrum disorders (ASD) affected one in 150 children. Communities that participated in both study years observed an increase in identified ASD prevalence ranging from 27 percent to 95 percent, with an average increase of 57 percent, according to researchers. Estimates also indicate that one in 70 boys and one in 315 girls have an autism spectrum disorder.

According to a CDC press release issued today, “The CDC considers [autism spectrum disorders] to be an urgent public health concern.”

The National Autism Association again calls for swift government action, including the declaration of the autism epidemic as a national health crisis.  An immediate focus on the following areas is critical:

Prevention:

• Genetics alone cannot explain the rise in autism. Proper study into environmental cofactors should be a top priority among our government, researchers and Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC).

• This latest study confirms that the number of children diagnosed with autism continued to rise among those born before the removal of the mercury-based preservative thimerosal from most routine childhood vaccines.  The findings are also consistent with recent studies ^{1, 2, 3} indicating an association between the hepatitis B vaccine and brain damage.

• Parents have consistently stated that regression in their child occurred following immunizations. Further research on the increased use of vaccines is warranted and should be conducted with significant stakeholder input. Obvious research that has been ignored, such as health outcomes in vaccinated versus non-vaccinated populations must be undertaken.  

• Certain subgroups may be more susceptible to environmental regression, including those with a family history of autoimmune disorders, premature infants, and children that are ill at the time of vaccination. Researching ways to decrease adverse reactions while increasing the safety of vaccines benefits the overall health of the general public.

Treatment:

• Children with autism have underlying medical conditions that often go missed, dismissed or misunderstood. These conditions deserve the full attention of our government health agencies and medical community.

• Physicians should be sure and listen to each caregiver’s account of any medical issues their child with autism may have and not presume it to be behavioral.

• Treatment, services and therapies should be available to all individuals with autism. Insurance coverage for co-morbid medical conditions should be mandated nationwide.

• Studies on children that significantly progressed or completely lost a classic autism diagnosis should be conducted to uncover biological underpinnings.  

• Clinical studies on promising treatments are necessary.

Support: 

• Wandering-related deaths are on the rise among children diagnosed with autism.  Earlier this month, seven-year-old James Delorey wandered from his home in the frigid temperatures and was found two days later with a faint pulse. He died shortly thereafter.  In November, Bernard Latimore, age nine, wandered from his home in Ocala, Florida, and was found dead in a neighbor’s pool. In October, Devine Farrier, age 11, was struck and killed by a truck when he wandered from his Washington home. A wandering prevention protocol should be in the hands of every pediatrician to share with families.

• School systems are overwhelmed by increased autism rates. Our community is in critical need of additional and properly trained special education personnel.

• Just this week, HR 4247, The Preventing Harmful Restraint & Seclusion in Schools Act, was introduced to address rising abuse and unsafe practices within school systems nationwide. Cameras in special education classrooms are warranted, as well as stiffer penalties for those that abuse schoolchildren.

• Families are often unable to pay for basic speech and occupational therapies. Divorce rates are disproportionately high within the autism community. Government aide is needed for these struggling families.

• We will soon be faced with a disproportionate number of diagnosed adults in need of housing, job assistance, and lifetime care. Preparation should begin immediately and resources allocated accordingly. 

“Autism is a national health emergency. Our hope is that the government will finally declare it as such so that proper prevention, treatments and resources will be put in place,” says NAA Executive Director Rita Shreffler. “Immediate action is necessary for our community, and for members of the general public who just became one doorstep closer to autism.

For more information about autism, visit www.nationalautismassociation.org. 

 

1 Neurotoxicology. 2009 Oct 2. Delayed acquisition of neonatal reflexes in newborn primates receiving a thimerosal-containing Hepatitis B vaccine: Influence of gestational age and birth weight. Hewitson L, Houser LA, Stott C, Sackett G, Tomko JL, Atwood D, Blue L, Railey White E, Wakefield AJ.Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States; Thoughtful House Center for Children, Austin, TX 78746, United States

2 Hepatitis B Triple series vaccine and developmental disability in US children aged 1-9 years.  Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry, Vol. 90, No. 5, September-October 2008, 997-1008. C. Gallagher, M. Goodman 

3 Vaccination of Male  Neonates and Autism Annals of Epidemiology, Volume 19, Issue 9, Pages  659-659 C. Gallagher, M. Goodman 

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