Is Autism Prevalent in India? According to a report by ETHealthWorld, about 18 million people in India are diagnosed with autism. About 1 to 1.5 per cent of children aged two to nine years are diagnosed with ASD.
The country with the highest rate of diagnosed autism in the world is Qatar, and the country with the lowest rate is France. Around 4 times as many boys have autism as girls. The rate of autism in the U.S. went from 1 in 150 in 2000 to 1 in 100 in 2022.
[16] The current study was the first community-based study carried out in India on the prevalence of autism among 1–10 years age and reported a prevalence of 15/10,000 (0.15%). Studies in Asia, Europe, and North America have identified individuals with ASD with an average prevalence of between 1% and 2%.
Mental and neurological conditions in India are perceived as a taboo. The major population resides in rural areas, where the knowledge about autism is very limited. It could be easily mistaken with other conditions. “In rural areas, autism remains largely undiagnosed.
In 2017, the highest DALY rates attributed to autism spectrum disorders was seen in Bihar, categorized as a low SDI state with 54.
Genetic mutation/change is still the leading factor behind ASD. Other factors that increase the risk of giving birth to a baby with autism include the age of the parents at conception, health conditions such as diabetes and thyroid disease during pregnancy, maternal obesity, etc.
It is estimated that 1 in 100 people in Australia have Autism. In 2018 there were 205,200 Australians with Autism, a 25.1% increase from the 164,000 in 2015 (Source: ABS SDAC 2018– Autism in Australia). This means that if you have Autism you are not alone.
Overall, the survey results suggest that lower reported cases of autism in India are likely due to lack of awareness rather than lower prevalence.
In 2015, there were an estimated 83,700 children and young people (aged 5–20) with autism and disability, living in households and attending school. The majority (85%) reported difficulty at school, with more than 1 in 4 (28%) attending a special school [5].
Even though there is no cure for autism that has been discovered but it does not mean that nothing can be done for a child with autism. There are medications and therapies to help people cope up but it works better on people with higher function.
Pratibha Bhatnagar, Akshay Bhatnagar's mother
She refers to his earlier experiences working at the University of Rajasthan. “People did not understand his mannerisms, some even thought he was of unsound mind.
Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of five, Chennai-based Prem Sankar and his family fought a broken education system and job market before he finally turned entrepreneur.
Recent studies have shown that autism can be detected during pregnancy as early as the second trimester. Early detection of the disorder can help us to get prepared and treat the disease as early as possible.
Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is one per 160 children. The prevalence in the Middle East is still unknown, largely due to a lack of diagnoses or a lack of acceptance from parents.
Increased availability of services.
Over the years, services for autism have become more readily available. The availability of services has encouraged more people to seek a diagnosis in order to gain access to these services.
Autism is strongly genetic
The risk of having another affected child is estimated to be around 1 in 5. Family members of a person with autism also tend to have higher rates of autistic traits.
Inheritance. ASD has a tendency to run in families, but the inheritance pattern is usually unknown. People with gene changes associated with ASD generally inherit an increased risk of developing the condition, rather than the condition itself.
Advances in diagnostic capabilities and greater understanding and awareness of autism spectrum disorder seem to be largely driving the increase, the Rutgers researchers said. But there's probably more to the story: Genetic factors, and perhaps some environmental ones, too, might also be contributing to the trend.
Risk Factors
Having a sibling with ASD. Having certain genetic or chromosomal conditions, such as fragile X syndrome or tuberous sclerosis. Experiencing complications at birth. Being born to older parents.
Centrelink. Centrelink, managed by the Australian Government Department of Human Services, delivers a range of payments for children or adults with autism, or caring for people with autism.
Diagnosis may also bring with it better financial and practical support. For some this may mean access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Others may qualify for specialised mental health services or supports in the workplace or while studying at university or TAFE. This opens in a new window.
In a pair of new reports — one focused on 8-year-olds and one on 4-year-olds — the CDC found that 1 out of every 36 children has autism. This is a significant increase from the 2021 estimate of 1 in 44, which was a big jump from 1 in 110 in 2006.