I have been quite intrigued over the past 12-15 years about autism, especially because of its very high incidences or prevalence in America’s children. The old ratio for children with autism was 1 in 150.

This ratio is stagerringly high all by itself, but a newer ratio just recently released by the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that the more current ratio may be even worse.

For example, writing in the journal Pediatrics last Sunday, researchers from the CDC and Harvard Medical School have developed new figures that show an alarming increase in the ratio for children with autism. Specifically, their more current numbers show that the current ratio appears now to affect about one in 91 U. S. children, and about one in 58 boys.

“The statistical aspect of autism is just staggering,” said Bob Wright, co-founder of the autism advocacy group Autism Speaks.

“If we had one in 58 boys getting swine flu, the country would be crazy.”

The new estimate translates to about 673,000 U. S. children with autism, as compared to the previous estimate of 560,000 U. S. children.

“We’re going to have to think very hard about what we’re going to do for the one in 100 children,” said Dr. Thomas Insel, director of the National Institutes of Mental Health.

Unfortunately, the effort to document the total number of autism cases in children is a daunting task because health care officials still have no biological

way of determining the disease’s onset.

“With diabetes, you can get a blood test,” said Dr. Susan E. Levy, of the Childrens’ Hospital of Philadelphia, as told to the Associated Press.

“As of yet, there’s no consistent biologic marker we can use to make the diagnosis of autism.”

In the recent study, researchers relied on information gathered through telephone surveys from parents. It also included cases of Asperger’s Syndrome, which is a somewhat milder form of autism.

Dr. Ileana Arias, deputy director of the CDC, referred to autism as “an urgent public health concern.”

She added that, “A concerted effort and a substantial national response is warranted in addressing the issue” of autism. Unfortunately, the information that we currently have doesn’t allow us to give a true account of whether the apparent

increase is an actual increase or the result of changes in the way we describe or diagnose (autism).”

Nobody yet has really determined with any clarity what the causes of autism are. They range from genetic anomalies, to food additives, to environmental factors, etc. The high incident

rate of autism must be addressed in a very coordinated and concerted effort, though. The same effort needs to be mobilized to find a cure for autism or, at least, better ways to treat children with autism.

Paul Rendine is chairman of the Disability Advocates of Delmarva. He can be reached at 800-759-2083 or at his e-mail address at: quoteman3@aol.com with any questions or comments.