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Article: Autism--from denial to hope: in 15 years, the ranks of autism researchers have swelled from fewer than 25 to more than 700.(IN RETROSPECT)
- Article from:
- Behavioral Healthcare
- Article date:
- July 1, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Vendome Group LLC. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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As recently as 1990, autism was considered a rare and hopeless disorder. The prevalence was thought to be 1 in every 2,500 children; little was known about the efficacy of treatments; and fewer than 25 scientists called themselves autism researchers.
Today in America, autism affects as many as 1 in every 166 children (including all autism disorders, such as Asperger's disorder). On average a family receives the devastating diagnosis of autism every 21 minutes. Once believed to be caused by cold and distant mothers, autism is now among the most common and severe developmental disabilities facing children in the United States. Indeed, autism is a national health ...