Autism is now Common

It's hard for me to tell whether there are more developmental problems or just better diagnosis because my kids are so young. I have talked to teachers who say they are seeing more problems now compared to 10-20 years ago. So I guess I am leaning toward more disorders. What do you think?

FROM ABC: It seems that doctors are finding autism more and more common. Now a new government study continues the trend-- which includes other developmental problems. Autism and other childhood development difficulties have increased seventeen per cent in the last ten years.

That's the finding of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-- published in the journal "Pediatrics." Based on data from children age three to seventeen, the authors found a rise in those with: - autism - attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - cerebral palsy - mental retardation (and) - seizures Autism had the biggest increase, rising four-fold between 2006 and 2008.

But Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder rose thirty-three per cent-- the biggest reason for the higher incidence of developmental problems. Boys had a higher prevalence than girls. The experts say the increase may be due to more pre-term births and parents having kids at later ages. They also cite better awareness and detection.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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Home Autism Detection Kit

A device that supposedly identifies kids with autism? I am skeptical. I cannot imagine this has a high accuracy rate. My first thought is that autism isn't just a speech disorder. Doctors take a look at the overall child and many factors before determining whether a child should be diagnosed with autism. I understand this device isn't a diagnostic tool-just a resource. Still, I can't imagine learning my child might have autism by mail. It would be nice if there was some kind of blood test or scan that said, "autistic" "not autistic," but there isn't. I am concerned about this one. What do you think?

FROM ABC: A new device marketed to parents as an early detection device for autism has specialists debating whether the technology will become a powerful autism screening tool for doctors, or a do-it-yourself recipe for parental anxiety.

For around $200 dollars, parents can now order a LENA Language and Autism Screen (LAS) designed to detect early signs of autism in their toddlers' daily chatter at home.

The LAS device -- an iPod sized recorder that fits into specially designed overalls -- was designed after five years of research by the non-profit LENA foundation that is seeking to "develop advanced technology for the early screening, diagnosis, research, and treatment of language delays and disorders in children and adults," according to their Web site.

To use LAS, parents simply let their 24-month to 48-month-old children wear the device and overalls for a full 12-hour day. Then parents can ship the device back to LENA where employees use their acoustic algorithms to compare the child's vocalizations to those of other children analyzed in the LENA database. Parents then get an assessment in the mail.

"It's not a diagnosis, it's a detection. We wouldn't recommend someone use this screen as a diagnosis," said Mia Moe, director of communications at the LENA Foundation. "You really need to bring this information to a professional."

To get a child diagnosed with autism, parents typically get a referral from a pediatrician or school, and then see a specialist for a lengthy diagnostic interview. The diagnostic tests can take hours, and parents report waiting weeks or even several months for an appointment with specialists. After a diagnosis, they then face a slew of products marketed to help the mysterious disorder.

"As a parent there are a lot of products coming out at us all days," said Marguerite Kirst Colston, the vice president for constituent relations at the Autism Society and mother of a 9-year-old boy with autism. "Perhaps it could be a good additive, but as a screening tool – as a parent, I paused."

Moe said the idea to adapt the LENA technology to the general public came from two members of LENA's scientific advisory board who were parents of children with autism. The board members thought the LENA research could be applied to autism screening.

"Parents typically know there's something going on," said Moe. "But most regular visits with the pediatricians are 8-15 minutes at the most."

The goal, Moe said was to help parents screen their children and get a diagnosis earlier.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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Autism at 6 Months

I was told by a developmental pediatrician years ago that there are kids who start to have typical development and then stop and regress. According to this article, that regressive autism is more common that we might think. That is a scary thought. My baby is five months old right now and is developing at a normal pace. He smiles and laughs and interacts with people all the time. I would be devastated if all that just stopped. I am having so much fun with the little guy!


A new study finds babies don't show the earliest symptoms of autism any sooner than six months old. Researchers regularly examined a group of babies -- some considered to be high risk for autism -- and others who were not. They monitored the babies' smiling, babbling and eye contact during each exam until they were three years old.

They found the symptoms of autism began to emerge between six and 12 months of age. By six months, most of the infants who developed autism showed declines in social communication. Then --after-- six months their eye contact, social smiling and responsiveness declined as well.

More on this story

-NewsAnchorMom Jen
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