Kim found South Korea families had higher levels of cultural tightness than U.S. families and that this was associated with autism stigma among Koreans, but not Americans.
“South Koreans typically associate autism and disabilities with shame,” said Ms. Son, whose center provides care and treatment for young children with autism. Several parents whose children attend the center conceal the diagnosis from friends and relatives, and some blame themselves for it, she added.
A team of U.S. and Korean researchers recently announced that it had uncovered here the highest rate of autism ever recorded in a general population. Autism had been recognized in South Korea only in its most severe forms; the condition was considered so rare that the government barely made an effort to track it.
6,7 In Korea, previous studies reported that the prevalence of ASD was estimated to be 2.64% (1 in 38 children) among school-aged children, that being 7- to 12-year-olds, 18.53 cases per 100,000 persons when looking at all age groups.
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.
Most countries have diagnosed autism rates of between 60 and 100 for every 10,000 children. The country with the lowest diagnosed autism rate in the world is France, with about 1 in 144 children being diagnosed. There are just five countries with an autism rate that is higher than 100 out of every 10,000 children.
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.
Even when parents are aware that their child has a problem, shame or fear of societal stigma may deter them from seeking appropriate help. For instance, in South Korean culture, some consider autism to be a 'genetic taint', which diminishes the marriage prospects of other children in the family.
Clonakilty in County Cork, Ireland, and Austin in Minnesota, United States are two communities that have chosen to embrace neurodiversity, and more specifically, autism.
The Act on Welfare of Persons with Disabilities recognizes the rights of people with disabilities as equal members of Korean society and outlines anti-discrimination policies so as to uphold these rights.
Park Shi Ohn, who is an autistic savant, aspires to become a pediatrician. He overcomes societal discrimination and uses his exceptional abilities to achieve his dreams.
Koreans believe that having disabilities is the result of the geomantic system of topography, used in choosing auspicious sites for graves and houses, sins committed in a previous existence, the fault of an ancestor, or a wicked ghost.
Autism prevalence is reported to be highest among non-Hispanic white children, lower in Hispanic and African American/black children, and highly variable in Asian/Pacific Islanders. More comorbid intellectual disability and delays in expressive language have been observed among Hispanic and African American children.
Autistic people may act in ways that are seen as disturbing and impolite by strict Japanese standards. As a result, according to one study, autism is stigmatized to a greater degree in Japan than in the United States (Atherton et al., 2023).
Since the 1970s, the Government of China has been seeking to improve the conditions of people with disability. In 2006, the Chinese law officially recognized autism as a disability. Requires public schools to accept students with disability.
Although the exact cause of autism is still unknown, there is evidence to suggest that genetics play a significant role. Since autism is less prevalent in females, autism was always thought to be passed down from the mother. However, research suggests that autism genes are usually inherited from the father.
A new study challenges the theory that autism is largely passed down from mothers. In fact, siblings who are both diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) seem to get a larger portion of their DNA from their father.
While both parents may contribute to a child's risk of developing autism, research has also shown that the mother's genetics may play a slightly larger role. This is because the majority of genetic mutations associated with autism are thought to occur spontaneously in the egg or sperm cells of the mother.
So, why are the rates of autism increasing? Greater awareness. The primary reason that the rates of autism have increased is greater awareness of autism.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication, restricted interests, repetitive behaviors, and/or abnormalities in sensory reaction. The prevalence of ASD reached 2.23 % in the United States [1] and 0.36 % in Asia [2].
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.