Autism 'doubles' in young children

Teachers have reported a significant increase in the numbers of young children with autism.

A survey of primary school teachers by the National Autistic Society has uncovered much higher rates among young school children than previously thought, with one child in 80 diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. That figure is almost double the rate of autism claimed last year by the Medical Research Council, at one in 166 for children, and is significantly higher than the rates among secondary school children.

The Department of Health downplayed the significance of the study, claiming it had not been peer-reviewed and was not scientific. The NAS denied its findings were unscientific, and said the results were based solely on the number of pupils with proven records of autism or special education needs related to autism in the 373 schools in five English and Welsh councils surveyed.