About Autism
What is Autism?
Autism is a lifelong condition which isolates the child or adult from the world as we know it. It affects the ability to communicate, form relationships and understand everyday activities. More
What is Asperger Syndrome?
People with Asperger Syndrome show the same characteristics of autism but are of average or above average intelligence and often have good communication skills. More
Figures for Scotland
Around 1 in 110 people have autism - which equates to 45,000 people in Scotland. Details of prevalence area by area and projections for the future are shown here - Figures for Scotland until 2014.
Notes:
Mid-2004 Population Estimates Scotland, Registrar General for Scotland, 2005.
2009 & 2014 Population Projections Scotland, Registrar General for Scotland, 2005.
Cross Party Group on ASD, Scottish Parliament, July 2005
Further Information
It is more than 50 years since Leo Kanner first described his classic autistic syndrome. Since then the results of research and clinical work have led to the broadening of the concept of autistic disorders. As a result, estimates of prevalence have increased considerably. This process has occurred in stages, the start of each of which can be linked to particular studies.
Prevalence rates
The Scottish Executive has not published any specific studies of prevalence figures of autism. However estimated prevalence rates were included in the Public Health Institute of Scotland Health Needs Assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorders, published in 2001.
The report indicated that the most recent and most rigorous prevalence studies indicated the prevalence of ASD in children is approximately 60 per 10,000 children. This reflected the work of Chakrabati & Fombonne (2001) who identified the ASD prevalence ratio of 1:167 for children under 19. This sample has since been applied to the whole population.
The National Autistic Society have also undertaken a review of recent ASD research. By focussing on the work of Lorna Wing on the triad of impairments in children with learning disabilities, and encompassing the research findings on Asperger and Kaner syndromes, this has resulted in the approximate prevalence rate of 91 per 10,000 children. This produces an ASD prevalence ratio of 1:110, and has been applied to the whole population.
This 1:110 ratio has since been adopted by the Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group on ASD.
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