Has the Rate of Autism Changed in Recent Years?
Too soon to jump to conclusions
The survey authors conclude that it's too soon to tell whether autism rates are decreasing; however, they suggest that there may be a logical explanation for why we saw a rise in its incidence in the past. The plateau in autism rates may indicate slowing; however, it was too soon to make any definitive conclusions on this matter. They also suggest that because of the improvements in diagnosis of autism as well as the increase in public awareness of the disorder, it's possible that the increases in prevalence over the recent decades may have been skewed due to improved diagnostics.
The research team reported their findings in a recent research letter published in JAMA, which is a reputable medical journal that is well respected by doctors and scientists around the globe.
References
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2667712?resultClick=1&redirect=true
