Did you know that the number of people diagnosed with autism has skyrocketed in the New York-New Jersey area? According to a recent study, the number of documented cases of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) rose a surprising 500% between 2000 and 2016! And the big surprise? The biggest increase was among kids without intellectual disabilities. In fact, two-thirds of the children with autism in the area don't have any intellectual problems, which is different from what we thought before. The study also found that the rates of autism without intellectual disabilities increased 5 times, and the rates of autism along with intellectual disabilities increased 2 times. So what's causing all of this? The study suggests that better understanding and testing for autism plays a part, but there's probably something else too. The study also noticed differences in diagnosing autism based on race and socioeconomic status, and stressed the importance of checking for autism early, especially in communities that don't have many resources.
Hasan Memon M.D
707 Alexander Road, Suite 208 Princeton, NJ 08540
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Hasan Memon, M.D., is a board-certified psychiatrist and addiction medicine physician who conducts Autism evaluations in Princeton, NJ
