01-18-2006, 02:08 PM
Survey to examine incidence of autism in Europe
Irish Health
Wed 18/01/2006
A major survey on autism is to be carried out throughout the European Union, in order to determine if the condition has reached epidemic levels.
Autism is a developmental disorder, in which a person is unable to relate to people and situations. Physically there is nothing wrong with them. The condition can seriously affect how autistic people view and interact with the world around them. The three main areas in which they can experience difficulties are communications, relationships and imagination.
An increasing number of people are being diagnosed with autism. However it is unclear whether this is due to a greater incidence of the condition, or whether an increased understanding of it has led to more people being diagnosed now than in previous years.
According to disability rights campaigner and MEP (member of European Parliament), Kathy Sinnott, the European Autism Information System (EAIS) project aims to discover how common the condition is.
Ms Sinnott, whose son Jamie has autism, believes there is no reliable data available to determine the incidence of the disorder.
"Research in the US has shown that autism levels have risen from four cases in every 10,000 children to an alarming 30 to 60 per 10,000 children, which would officially classify it as an epidemic", she said.
Ms Sinnott described the EAIS project as a 'giant step forward' in the search to find out just how prevalent autism is in Ireland and the rest of the EU.
"This is vitally important because early detection can increase the effectiveness of treatment, improving the quality of life of children with autistic spectrum disorder", she added.
The European Commission has committed €480,000 to the project, although the final cost is expected to run higher than this.
The Irish part of the research will be lead by Professor Ivan Perry of University College Cork.
Source: http://www.irishhealth.com/?level=4&id=8830
Irish Health
Wed 18/01/2006
A major survey on autism is to be carried out throughout the European Union, in order to determine if the condition has reached epidemic levels.
Autism is a developmental disorder, in which a person is unable to relate to people and situations. Physically there is nothing wrong with them. The condition can seriously affect how autistic people view and interact with the world around them. The three main areas in which they can experience difficulties are communications, relationships and imagination.
An increasing number of people are being diagnosed with autism. However it is unclear whether this is due to a greater incidence of the condition, or whether an increased understanding of it has led to more people being diagnosed now than in previous years.
According to disability rights campaigner and MEP (member of European Parliament), Kathy Sinnott, the European Autism Information System (EAIS) project aims to discover how common the condition is.
Ms Sinnott, whose son Jamie has autism, believes there is no reliable data available to determine the incidence of the disorder.
"Research in the US has shown that autism levels have risen from four cases in every 10,000 children to an alarming 30 to 60 per 10,000 children, which would officially classify it as an epidemic", she said.
Ms Sinnott described the EAIS project as a 'giant step forward' in the search to find out just how prevalent autism is in Ireland and the rest of the EU.
"This is vitally important because early detection can increase the effectiveness of treatment, improving the quality of life of children with autistic spectrum disorder", she added.
The European Commission has committed €480,000 to the project, although the final cost is expected to run higher than this.
The Irish part of the research will be lead by Professor Ivan Perry of University College Cork.
Source: http://www.irishhealth.com/?level=4&id=8830