The prevalence of early childhood autism: comparison of administrative and epidemiological studies

Lorna Wing; Sybil Yeates; Lorna M. Brierley; Judith Gould

doi:10.1017/s0033291700007522

Abstract

Synopsis The results of surveys and inquiries to identify autistic children, carried out in England and Wales, the U.S.A. and Denmark, are compared. Three studies, in each of which either a total population of children or a wide range of handicapped children was screened, using case-note inspection and interviews, all estimated the prevalence of the autistic syndrome to be between four and five children per 10,000 aged under 15 years. Inquiries that counted diagnosed cases only or that relied upon local authority records produced much lower prevalence rates for the autistic syndrome. The reasons for this are examined, and the implications for prevalence studies of handicapping conditions are discussed.

Keywords

EpidemiologyAutismMedicinePsychologyPsychiatryEnvironmental healthPathology

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Publication Info

Year: 1976
Type: article
Volume: 6
Issue: 1
Pages: 89-100
Citations: 155
Access: Closed

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APA Style

                            
                                
                                    Lorna Wing, 
                                
                                    Sybil Yeates, 
                                
                                    Lorna M. Brierley
                                
                                et al.
                            
                            (1976). 
                            The prevalence of early childhood autism: comparison of administrative and epidemiological studies. 
                            Psychological Medicine
                            , 6
                            (1)
                            , 89-100.
                            https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291700007522
                        

Identifiers

DOI: 10.1017/s0033291700007522