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In
November the federal National Center for Health Statistics released the
preliminary results of a study that showed between 2014 and 2016 the
number of 3 to 17-year olds diagnosed with autism rose by 23%, yielding a
new autism rate of 2.76%, or 1 in 36 children, and 3.63%, or 1 in 28
boys. This catastrophic news was greeted with complete silence by the
federal government, the major media, and the largest autism
organizations. Neither Autism Speaks nor the Autism Society of America
found the results worthy of a press release.
Please click the Take Action link to send messages to the President, your
legislators in Washington and your state capital, and the Governor of
your state, informing them of the new catastrophic numbers, and asking
them when are they going to take autism seriously?
The
study authors came to the conclusion that there is nothing to be
concerned about because when they compared the year-to-year growth they
did not see a statistically significant change with the techniques that
used. They chose not to look at the 23% increase from 2014 to 2016.
Yet a single case of the measles, which was considered a routine
childhood disease a generation ago, can generate screaming national media
attention and spur public health officials to action.
In
addition to the disturbing autism numbers, the number of children with
"intellectual disability" appeared to hold steady over the
study period, "other developmental delay" increased from 3.57%
to 4.55%, and all "developmental disability" increased from
5.76% to 6.99%, a statistically significant increase that one would think
would be worthy of some concern by federal or medical authorities.
Instead: crickets.
What other
major debilitating disorder that federal data shows is growing at an
exponential rate is greeted with a shrug? In 2016 billions of dollars
were mobilized nearly overnight to fight microcephaly in Brazil,
ostensibly caused by zika virus. Further research showed no connection
between the two and that there was no threat to residents of the US from
zika. Yet we have a real, growing and massive health threat from autism
and we spent a measly $200 million a year on research, less than the
annual payroll of the New York Yankees' outfield.
Autism is not a gift, it is disabling disorder that cuts short the
life of many, and thwarts the lives of those who have it in almost
everyway. And the statistics make that case: 86% of all adults with
autism are unemployed, 44% of people with autism have intellectual
disability, 40% cannot speak, 33% have seizures. It is well past time to
take autism seriously.
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