|
A.
|
Approximately one out of every 150 children born today will fall somewhere on the autism spectrum, a rate that is growing at an estimated 10-17% a year. Currently, more than 1.5 million Americans are believed to have some form of autism, making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined.
Autism is found around the globe, affecting individuals of all racial, ethnic, and social backgrounds. For reasons still unknown, the disorder is more prevalent in boys than girls. Family income, lifestyle, and level of education do not affect the odds of a child getting autism.
|