There is no "Autism Epidemic"

>There are 2 hypothesis:
>
>A: There is a report that autism now affects 1 child in every
>150. (This one is based on solid data)
>B: Autism is not on increase, but we just have different diagnostic
>criteria adding more people to Autism Spectrum (are there any data
>supporting this one?)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------


I know there has been much said in support of the Hypothesis B. Right off the top of my head, here is the study published last july in Pediatrics

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/118/1/e139?maxtoshow=
Fombonne E, Zakarian R, Bennett A, Meng L,
McLean-Heywood D. Pervasive developmental disorders in
Montreal, Quebec, Canada: prevalence and links with
immunizations. Pediatrics. 2006 Jul;118(1):e139-50.
PMID: 16818529
CONCLUSIONS. The prevalence of pervasive developmental disorder in Montreal was high, increasing in recent birth cohorts as found in most countries. Factors accounting for the increase include a broadening of diagnostic concepts and criteria, increased awareness and, therefore, better identification of children with pervasive developmental disorders in communities and epidemiologic surveys, and improved access to services. The findings ruled out an association between pervasive developmental disorder and either high levels of ethylmercury exposure comparable with those experienced in the United States in the 1990s or 1- or 2-dose measles-mumps-rubella vaccinations.


------------------------
>If one out of 150 people have Autism Spectrum, then one out of 5
>people should have an Autistic ancestor/relative in the first 3 generations.
>I have none. I have many friends. None again.
-------------------------


[N-] How do you know that? Have all 150 adult relatives been evaluated or even screened for Autism Spectrum by a current qualified behavioral health professional? And, who's to say that children with some attributes of autism spectrum don't learn to capably interact with their surroundings by the time they are adults, and don't overly or openly express Autism Spectrum tendencies?

--------------------------
>How many here have a photo of a relative who would
>fit diagnosis of "Autism Spectrum", but was, at the time, considered
>a "retard", "mentally sick", "stupid
>idot", "strange", "antisocial", .... "lack the ability to
>spontaneously develop effective social interaction skills"
>or whatever else could have been names for Autism Spectrum people in the past?
>I never heard about an 80 years old grandma who would fit "Autism Spectrum" ?
----------------------------

[N-] Because they are family, and genetically and/or environmentally connected, do you suppose you may carry bias in self-analyzing your own relatives as fitting definitions described above? Nevertheless, I hear people call their in-laws these names all the time. (Not me, boy!) Looking at an unrelated population, get to know just the few dozen people you work with and then start "looking" for autistic-like behavior around you at work. Is there one out of 150 people that jump out at you? (In my case, it's more like one out of twelve - or maybe it's just me.) I'm still open-minded on this (or any) issue and would appreciate more discussion. But, so far, I'm not convinced of an Autism Epidemic.