Over the last few years the number of children diagnosed with autism has increased, in fact tripled in numbers. According to research from 2020, approximately 1 in 36 children is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

This means that in todays over full classrooms one child in each classroom might be on the spectrum. Why are more children being diagnosed with autism than before?

The criteria for diagnoses have been broadened and more children are now being screened for autism than before. Improved access to healthcare facilities has improved the detection of autism in the low socio-economic communities. There is an increasing awareness among the general public about autism.

Autism isn’t an unknown term as it used to be and more people will now know someone with autism. Autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of complex neurodevelopmental disabilities. The brain of an autistic person might develop differently to a person who is not autistic. An autistic person will communicate, interact socially and understand the world differently to a non-autistic person.

Autism is diagnosed in childhood at about two to three years of age.

The main symptom is often delayed milestones: (Here are a couple of aspects to look out for)

• Lack of eye contact. Might look out the corner of their eye.
• Failure to direct parent’s attention to objects or self. Find it difficult to ask for needs or wants.
• Prefer to play on their own. Might have a preferred game to play or topic of interest to talk about.
• Be preoccupied with certain toys, parts of objects or characters. Might only play with the wheels of a toy car.
•  Become unreasonably upset with changes in routine. Do things in the same way every time.
• Speaking may be delayed. Might speak or might only use a few words or might not speak any words at all.
• Hypersensitivity to lights, sounds, smells, textures and tastes. Loud sounds and large crowds might be overwhelming.

Autism is not a disease and is not contagious. No one knows what causes autism. What is known though, is that no one is to blame for a child or an adult being autistic. It is not true that vaccines cause autism. It would appear that autism may be genetic. However, sadly there is no cure for autism. If you think either yourself or your child might be autistic, ask your health care provider for a referral to a neurodevelopmental clinic.