BACKGROUND: Recent reports estimate the prevalence of autism-spectrum conditions in the UK to be 1%. AIMS: To use different methods to estimate the prevalence of autism-spectrum conditions, including previously undiagnosed cases, in Cambridgeshire. METHOD: We carried out a survey of autism-spectrum conditions using the Special Educational Needs (SEN) register. A diagnosis survey was distributed to participating schools to be handed out to parents of all children aged 5-9 years. The mainstream primary school population was screened for unknown cases. RESULTS: The prevalence estimates generated from the SEN register and diagnosis survey were 94 per 10 000 and 99 per 10 000 respectively. A total of 11 children received a research diagnosis of an autism-spectrum condition following screening and assessment. The ratio of known:unknown cases is about 3:2 (following statistical weighting procedures). Taken together, we estimate the prevalence to be 157 per 10 000, including previously undiagnosed cases. CONCLUSIONS: This study has implications for planning diagnostic, social and health services.
BACKGROUND: Recent reports estimate the prevalence of autism-spectrum conditions in the UK to be 1%. AIMS: To use different methods to estimate the prevalence of autism-spectrum conditions, including previously undiagnosed cases, in Cambridgeshire. METHOD: We carried out a survey of autism-spectrum conditions using the Special Educational Needs (SEN) register. A diagnosis survey was distributed to participating schools to be handed out to parents of all children aged 5-9 years. The mainstream primary school population was screened for unknown cases. RESULTS: The prevalence estimates generated from the SEN register and diagnosis survey were 94 per 10 000 and 99 per 10 000 respectively. A total of 11 children received a research diagnosis of an autism-spectrum condition following screening and assessment. The ratio of known:unknown cases is about 3:2 (following statistical weighting procedures). Taken together, we estimate the prevalence to be 157 per 10 000, including previously undiagnosed cases. CONCLUSIONS: This study has implications for planning diagnostic, social and health services.
Authors: Lindsay M Oberman; Joseph P McCleery; Edward M Hubbard; Raphael Bernier; Jan R Wiersema; Ruth Raymaekers; Jaime A Pineda Journal: Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci Date: 2012-02-01 Impact factor: 3.436
Authors: Eva Kočovská; Rannvá Biskupstø; I Carina Gillberg; Asa Ellefsen; Hanna Kampmann; Tormóður Stórá; Eva Billstedt; Christopher Gillberg Journal: J Autism Dev Disord Date: 2012-09
Authors: Marja-Leena Mattila; Tuula Hurtig; Helena Haapsamo; Katja Jussila; Sanna Kuusikko-Gauffin; Marko Kielinen; Sirkka-Liisa Linna; Hanna Ebeling; Risto Bloigu; Leena Joskitt; David L Pauls; Irma Moilanen Journal: J Autism Dev Disord Date: 2010-09
Authors: Laura A Schieve; Lin H Tian; Jon Baio; Kristin Rankin; Deborah Rosenberg; Lisa Wiggins; Matthew J Maenner; Marshalyn Yeargin-Allsopp; Maureen Durkin; Catherine Rice; Lydia King; Russell S Kirby; Martha S Wingate; Owen Devine Journal: Ann Epidemiol Date: 2014-01-15 Impact factor: 3.797