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The Occurrence And Diagnosis Of An Autism Spectrum Disorder ( Asd ) The Same Around The World?

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To what extent is the occurrence and diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) the same around the world?

Introduction:

Autism, also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ADS), is a group of complex disorders of brain development. Autism is comprised by a broad range of conditions, classified as neurodevelopmental disorders, which include difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive actions(“What Is Autism,” n.d.). In 2013 all autism disorders were combined under one diagnosis of ASD. Previous to that, autistic disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), Asperger Syndrome, and Rett Syndrome were recognized as distinct subtypes (Matson, 2012).

Autism has had a 10-fold increase in prevalence in the last 40 years in the United States. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have identified that 1 in 68 American children are classified as autistic, which affects over 3 million individuals in the United States (“What Is Autism,” n.d.). Current estimates are that 1 out of 42 boys and 1 out of 189 girls are diagnosed with autism in this country(“What Is Autism,” n.d.). Autism affects all races, ethnicities, and social groups.

Autism Spectrum Disorder is characterized by deficits in social communication and social interaction, and repetitive patterns of behavior and activities. These symptoms are present in early development

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