Figure 1
| Year | Prevelance in Population | Northern
Ireland No’s of Individuals with ASD |
Download Report | |||||
| 2002 | 71: 10,000 | 8,000 |
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(1.5MB) | ||||
| 2007 | 1 : 100 | 20,000 |
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(96kb) | ||||
| 2007 | 1 : 76* | 30,000 |
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* Figures supplied by BELB (Belfast Education & Library Board) (2007). Concur with unpublished 2007 report by Cambridge Autism Research Centre.
Figure 2
| Year | School Age Children with ASD | Download Report | ||||
| 2002 | 900 |
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(1.5MB) | |||
| 2007 | 3000* | |||||
* Figures supplied by Department of Education Training & Inspection (DETI) 2006
Q. Why is the rate of increase so dramatic?
A. The figures above show between
a 300% - 500% increase in the estimated numbers of individuals with ASD
in Northern Ireland over the last 5 years. Many reasons are given for this.
International increases are also dramatic and the answer may lie somewhere
within the following:
1) Environmental & genetic factors e.g. MMR/Immunisation, diet, herederity
pre-disposition within society.
In other words, have our evolving lifestyles introduced a hazard that is
at the route of the triggering of Autism for a section of our population
(Ref Uta Frith’s “Explaining the Enigma”).
2) Better identification due to greater awareness, expertise and resourced
services.
This may be a significant factor. However DHSSPS (NI) funding to develop
ASD Assessment and Diagnostic services was first delivered in 2004 and a
service network was still very much in a developmental stage in 2007.
Due to obvious under funding of diagnostic services it is therefore unlikely
that this is a total explanation of the exceptional rate of increase.
Q. What is the typical waiting period for a child
referred for diagnosis?
A. In 2006, Parliamentary questions
elicited a Government response giving waiting times for diagnostic assessment
from 6 to 36 months across Northern Ireland. At this time it was estimated
that 600 children were awaiting assessment. Ref: Hansard (House of Commons).
Q. How many children receive a diagnosis of ASD
annually?
A. It is estimated that in Northern
Ireland in excess of 300 children are born every year who later will receive
a diagnosis of ASD.
