Nursery World - Alarming rise in pre-school autism

The number of young children in Northern Ireland who have been diagnosed as autistic has risen markedly in recent years, according to a report published last week by the Northern Ireland Executive. The report of the Task Group on Autism, a body set up in autumn 2000, acknowledged that it was not possible to know the precise number of pre-school-age children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and that they may not be diagnosed until they are older. But, it said, 'it is evident that there are increasing numbers of children with this diagnosis under four years'. The report added that figures from the country's five Education and Library Boards had found in the year before compulsory education begins some 85 children, 46 in mainstream settings, identified as having ASD.

The report of the Task Group on Autism, a body set up in autumn 2000, acknowledged that it was not possible to know the precise number of pre-school-age children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and that they may not be diagnosed until they are older. But, it said, 'it is evident that there are increasing numbers of children with this diagnosis under four years'. The report added that figures from the country's five Education and Library Boards had found in the year before compulsory education begins some 85 children, 46 in mainstream settings, identified as having ASD.

The charity Parents and Professionals Autism (PAPA) pointed out that these figures reflect a prevalence rate of 70 children per 10,000 of the Province's population, whereas ten years ago only 'a handful' of children were diagnosed as autistic. It asked why there were now in excess of 1,000 children with ASD in Northern Ireland.

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