It’s been almost two days since US President Donald Trump made his maiden speech (for his second term) at Congress on Tuesday, but the aftermath of the speech is still lingering.
Amongst a wide range of topics, Trump touched on the topic of autism, and speaking before a joint session of Congress, he stated that there had been an increase in the number of children being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, although the fact is true, the information he cited could be clearer with some more context.
What did Trump say?
While giving a shout-out to the US Secretary of Health and Human Services, RFK Jr., Trump said, "Our goal is to get toxins out of our environment, poisons out of our food supply, and keep our children healthy and strong. As an example, not long ago, and you can’t even believe these numbers, one in 10,000 children have autism. One in 10,000. And now it’s one in 36. There’s something wrong."
How true is that?
The CDC tracks data on autism spectrum diagnoses. Trump was correct that the number currently stands at 1 in 36 kids being diagnosed; in the year 2000, it was 1 in 150.
The 1 in 10,000 number Trump referenced likely came from a study done more than half a century ago; In 1970, a researcher in Wisconsin published his findings from a study conducted in the '60s that estimated the number to be at 1 in 10,000 children.
As per the CDC, increases in the amount of diagnoses could be due to a number of factors, including better early detection capabilities, more awareness about signs and symptoms, and improved diagnostic practices.
As autism becomes a more prevalent topic in today's landscape, here's all we need to know about autism spectrum disorder.
What is autism?
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how people learn, behave, communicate, and interact with others. It's caused by differences in the brain. Autism, which is a developmental disability that affects the way people experience the world, may include differences in processing senses, thinking, physically moving, communicating, socializing, and going about daily living.
Zoe Gross, the director of advocacy at Autistic Self Advocacy Network, previously told USA TODAY, “We’re born autistic, and we’re autistic our whole lives. It affects everything about the way we interact with and perceive the world.”
How does autism affect people?
Autism affects every autistic person differently, and there isn’t one way to be autistic. Gross describes it as an ice cream sundae bar: The traits of autism can be mixed and matched from person to person. The developmental disability that affects how people communicate, interact, and behave. It can also impact how people learn, move, and pay attention, such as:
Social and communication difficulties: Difficulty understanding social rules and body language
Difficulty expressing feelings
Difficulty understanding how others feel
Difficulty noticing social cues
Difficulty forming and maintaining friendships
Tendency to take things literally
Repetitive behaviors:Repeating words or phrases (echolalia)
Having an intense interest in specific topics
Becoming upset by slight changes in a routine
Sensory sensitivities:Being more sensitive or less sensitive than other people to light, sound, clothing, or temperature
Finding bright lights or loud noises overwhelming, stressful, or uncomfortable
Learning differences:Difficulty with transition from one activity to another
Taking longer to understand information
Do or think the same things over and over
Challenges in daily life:Problems in school and with successful learning
Employment problems
Inability to live independently
Social isolation
Stress within the family
Victimization and being bullied
There is no cure for autism, but support and intervention can help people develop skills and coping strategies.
How common is autism?
The number of people with ASD is on the rise, especially as children of color receive more diagnoses after being largely overlooked throughout history.
According to the CDC, approximately 1 in 36 children are identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), meaning it is considered a relatively common condition affecting a significant portion of the population.
Key points:1 in 36 children: This is the current estimate from the CDC for the prevalence of ASD among children.
More common in boys: Boys are nearly 4 times more likely to be diagnosed with ASD compared to girls.
All racial and ethnic groups: Autism affects individuals across all racial and socioeconomic groups.
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