One in 100 adults has autism with the condition much more likely to affect men

By
Sophie Borland

Last updated at 8:25 AM on 1st February 2012

One in 100 adults has autism, according to a major report.

Experts say the disorder and similar conditions such as Asperger’s syndrome are far more widespread than previously thought.

And as with children, the study has found that autism is far commoner in males than females.

About 1 in 50 men has the condition in some form compared to just 1 in 300 women.

Experts say autism is far more widespread than previously thought and more common in boys

Experts say autism is far more widespread than previously thought and more common in boys

In addition, the report by the NHS Information Centre also found that a third of adults with learning difficulties was autistic.

Although autism has been widely studied in children, until recently little was known about the prevalence amongst adults.

Researchers asked more than 7,400 men and women a series of questions that can pick up signs of autism.

Those whose answers suggested they might have the condition were invited to take part in a more rigorous test.

In another survey researchers interviewed more than 300 adults with learning difficulties and their carers.

Their combined results found that 1.1 per cent of all adults had some form of autism.

This is similar to the estimated prevalence amongst children – although some studies claim it could be as high as 1 in 60.

Mark Lever, chief executive of The National Autistic Society, said: ‘There has long been a tendency to view autism as solely a condition affecting children but this is the first study to find that the prevalence of autism is roughly the same for adults as it is for children.

‘Many people with autism currently face a battle to get appropriate support, with 63 per cent of adults saying they do not have enough to meet their needs. Now that we know how many adults with autism there are in England local authorities should be better able to estimate local need and plan services accordingly.’

Autism and Asperger’s cause a range of behavioural problems that vary between individuals.

Until about 20 years ago the conditions were considered relatively rare.

But in the 1990s there was a huge surge in the number of autism cases reported in children, after a wider diagnostic definition of the condition was introduced.

Autism also became far more high profile after a controversial study it may be triggered by the MMR vaccine – this link has since been widely disputed.

A controversial study claimed autism may be triggered by the MMR vaccine but this link has since been widely disputed

A controversial study claimed autism may be triggered by the MMR vaccine but this link has since been widely disputed

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have not been moderated.

Mother of 4, Guildford, 1/2/2012 13:49: the reason that many people with Asperger’s claim benefits, (assuming that they are not turned down initially, or don’t pass the ATOS test), is due to the fact employers don’t wish to employ people with disabilities – that they don’t want to make reasonable adjustments.
I’m self-employed, as I know I don’t work well in a workplace full of people.

Is there really any need to continue propagating the MMR-autism myth? ‘Widely disputed’ just isn’t accurate; it has been thoroughly debunked in numerous highly respected scientific journals (see the editorial ‘Wakefield’s article linking MMR vaccine and autism was fraudulent’ in the BMJ)

This isn’t new. It is also not a surprise. The condition is not a new phenomena, it is the diagnosis of it that is new. Now that children are not dying of various illnesses and infections in the west, paediatricians have been able to turn their attention to what would previously have been considered minor issues, hence the apparent rise in such conditions. It is a rise in the recognition of these conditions that has changed, not the condition itself.
I know there are many, many autistic/Aspie adults out there who live as virtual hermits, unable to interact with the world or make use of sometimes excellent qualifications. We may not be able to do a lot to help them, but hopefully we can prevent our children from living such lonely and misunderstood lives.
Also, many ASD adults are on benefits – help the children now and they may be contributing adults instead of hermits languishing on handouts. It is important.

“Until about 20 years ago the conditions were considered relatively rare” —-
Well, no, surely the habit of attaching the labels to the conditions was what was rare. We now do it more often, which a) allows people to suggest the “problem” is increasing and therefore must be caused by something such as vaccines or fillings; and b) creates a whole industry of demands for special treatment. Sure those exhibiting real problems may need help and should get it – but people’s temperaments, characters and aptitudes are different and always have been, whatever label we randomly slap on them.

Trevor, Southend UK, 1/2/2012 9:15: don’t be so utterly stupid. Do you think people, who have an ASD, want to be autistic. If I didn’t have Asperger’s, then I probably would have utilised my 2 degrees to obtain a well-paid job. As it is, I am a self-employed telemarketer.
I don’t have any friends, as I don’t socialise. I am prone to ‘Aspie meltdowns’. I spend most of my days in nightclothes, as I foind them more comfortable that skirts tops. I can get agitated quite easily, if someone is annoying me.I will do social ‘chit-chat’ but I’m worried that Imight say the wrong thing or hardly say anything at all.
I get paranoid, when I walk past groups of people, as I think that they will probably talk about me, as soon as I have passed. I very rarely make eye-contact. I lack-self-motivation. And I hate the taste texture of peas and candied peel.
So, not Asperger’s is not a ‘free-pass’ for me. I would rather be ‘normal’ than not.

People with autism have learning difficulties, whereas many people with Asperger’s have high IQs and are successful academics. Maybe autism and Asperger’s are not really related?

Olions, check out DR Melanie Dreher, Head of Iowa College of Nursing, she did a 5 year study in neonates Jamaica which is very interesting.
Certainly, drug use during pregnancy probably doesn’t cause autism but ALCOHOL = tatratogen = serious risk of mutations!!!

There was an error in my previous post. I actually intended to comment that only found less than one third of the cases they needed to establish a rate of 1 in 100 for adults: these were in fact only 19 adults who still never had a full diagnosis according to accepted criteria: they then projected the other cases onto the study set bringing the rate up to 1 in 100 and then projected that onto the entire country.

Has anyone done any research on the effects that taking ecstasy, cannabis, etc, can have on the offspring of those so indulging?

Clare, Wales, 1/2/2012 8:25 – Some children are described by their parents as “different” but they defy clinical diagnosis. There is a book called Active Alert Child by Linda Budd which may offer some help to you.

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