| The number of children diagnosed with Autism | | | | What is the cause of such an unbelievable |
| spiked out of control in the 1990's. Unfortunately | | | | increase? Some of the research indicates a |
| the number of new cases has continued to | | | | variety of things including exposure to heavy |
| increase annually since then. The current statistics | | | | metals, environmental issues, and Lyme Disease. |
| show that 1 in 150 children will be affected by | | | | Yet there is no proof that any one of these |
| Autism. Only 20 years ago the statistics were 1 in | | | | areas is truly responsible for Autism. Another |
| 10,000. | | | | scenario is that there have always been many |
| The United States Department of Education has | | | | children with Autism but the diagnosis hasn't been |
| issues reports that Autism is anticipated to | | | | there like it is now. |
| continue growing at the rate of 10% to 17% | | | | It is very understandable why couples planning to |
| annually. The Center for Disease Control | | | | have children are very concerned about the |
| estimates that 1.5 million people now suffer from | | | | chances of their child being affected by Autism. |
| some form of Autism. There are more than | | | | The more parents know about the signs of |
| 500,000 individuals under the age of 21 with some | | | | Autism the better chances they have of getting |
| form of Autism right now in the United States. | | | | early intervention processes in place for their child. |
| This numbers include a variety of different | | | | The increase in the number of children with |
| disorders that are covered under the umbrella of | | | | Autism is very scary for parents and for society |
| the Autism Spectrum. They include Classic | | | | as a whole. Various research reports indicate boys |
| Autism, Apserger's Disorder, Rett's Syndrome, | | | | have a 4 to 1 chance of developing Autism than |
| Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and Pervasive | | | | girls. It has become more common than cancer |
| Development Disorder (PDD). Each of these | | | | for children. Of the 4 million children born each |
| disorders portrays unique characteristics but they | | | | year in the United States, it is believed 24,000 of |
| have common elements that makes them | | | | them will have some form of Autism. |
| pervasive in nature rather than specific. | | | | |