Autism NI, Donard, Knockbracken Healthcare Park, Saintfield Road, Belfast, BT8 8BH

Figure 1

	Year		Prevalence in Population		Northern Ireland No’s of Individuals with ASD		Download Report
	2002		71: 10,000		8,000			(1.5MB)
	2007		1 : 100		20,000			(96kb)
	2007		1 : 76*		30,000

* 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 Concur with unpublished 2007 report by Cambridge Autism Research Centre.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			(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, heredity 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.

 

Autistic Spectrum Disorder ^1,2 - By ELB - Gender breakdown 2008/09

		BELB	WELB	NEELB	SEELB	SELB	Totals
Primary schools 3	Males	207	165	202	382	246	1,202	1,438
	Females	36	35	34	68	63	236
Post primary schools								1,094
	Males	170	150	136	239	275	970
	Females	39	12	13	25	35	124
Special schools								940
	Males	144	119	162	249	116	790
	Females	23	26	26	38	37	150
	Total	619	507	573	1,001	772	3,472

Asperger Syndrome ² - By ELB - Gender breakdown 2008/09

		BELB	WELB	NEELB	SEELB	SELB	Totals
Primary schools 3	Males	117	75	84	108	57	441	527
	Females	25	18	13	19	11	86
Post primary schools								793
	Males	162	110	86	167	179	704
	Females	36	7	6	18	22	89
Special schools								80
	Males	49	*	5	#	*	69
	Females	6	*	0	*	*	11
	Total	395	217	194	321	273	1,400

All pupils - By ELB - Gender breakdown 2008/09

		BELB	WELB	NEELB	SEELB	SELB	Totals
Primary schools 3	Males	12,485	15,196	18,914	17,761	19,787	84,143	164,811
	Females	12,135	14,481	18,287	17,097	18,668	80,668
Post primary schools								147,986
	Males	13,895	13,121	16,270	13,178	16,507	72,971
	Females	16,070	13,478	16,258	12,553	16,656	75,015
Special schools								4,598
	Males	916	493	667	825	265	3,166
	Females	364	225	329	356	158	1,432
	Total	55,865	56,994	70,725	61,770	72,041	317,395

Source: NI school census.

Note:

1. Autistic Spectrum Disorder includes autism or Aspergers syndrome.
2. Children at Stage 1 - 5 of the SEN Code of Practice are included. However, some children at stage 1 - 2 of the Code may not be included, as there is only a requirement for schools to record their needs at a more general level.
3. Figures for primary schools include children in nursery, reception and year 1 - 7 classes.