Autism Rate Much Higher: study

A study in South Korea suggests about 1 in 38 children have traits of autism, higher than a previous U.S. estimate of 1 in 110. By casting a wider net and looking closely at mainstream children, the researchers expected to find a higher rate of autism characteristics. But they were surprised at how high the rate was. Their hypothesis is that autism often goes undiagnosed in many nations.

Two-thirds of the children with autism traits in the study were in the mainstream school population, hadn't been diagnosed before and weren't getting any special services. It's not clear whether the children need special services or not, other experts said. The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health provided some funding for the study.

The study, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, surveyed 36,000 schoolchildren, ages 7 to 12 over five years. The questionnaire used is a recognized screening tool for high-functioning autism such as Asperger's syndrome. It asks such questions as whether the child "stands out as different" in a number of ways, including lacking empathy, lacking best friends and being bullied by other children. About 2.6 percent of the population had some autism traits.

1 in 38 children is is a sobering statistic. If it is this high in South Korea, it is almost certainly higher in the U.S. We explore some of the most recent data and tips in this week's issue of NCI Well Connect. Click here for more information about how to subscribe.