Prevalence of autistic spectrum disorder in children attending mainstream schools in a Welsh education authority

Webb, Elspeth; Morey, Jennifer N.; Thompsen, W; Butler, Cathal; Barber, M. W.; Fraser, William

doi:10.1111/j.1469-8749.2003.tb00416.x

Cited by 34 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 14 publications

(10 reference statements)

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“…The incidence of ASDs in this robust sample of term controls is consistent with that in the general population of Western Australia of 4 per 1000 total births (Emma Glasson, personal communication, the Western Australian Register for Autism Spectrum Disorders, 2004) and elsewhere (Webb et al 2003). It is possible that the recorded prevalence of ASD in our group of controls is somewhat higher than that seen in the general population as all controls were fully assessed by a clinical psychologist at several points in the study.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 51%

“…They include: Asperger syndrome (distinguished from autism by normal-range intellect and an absence of significant language delay), PDD-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), disintegrative disorder, and Rett syndrome. The prevalence of ASDs in mainstream schoolchildren has recently been estimated to be 20.2 out of every 10 000 and 25 per 10 000 if high-functioning individuals are included (Webb et al 2003).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Autism following a history of newborn encephalopathy: more than a coincidence?

Badawi

Dixon

Felix

et al. 2006

Develop Med Child Neuro

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Between June 1993 and December 1996, 276 term newborn infants with encephalopathy and 564 randomly selected term controls were enrolled in a population‐based study of moderate and severe term newborn encephalopathy (NE) in Western Australia. During comprehensive neurobehavioural and cognitive follow‐up of all patients and controls at 3 years and again at 5 years of age we found an unexpected but strong association between NE and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). A diagnosis of ASD by age 5 years was reached using criteria according of the Diagnostic Statistical Manual, 4th edition. Linking records to the Western Australian Disability Services Commission Register ensured that no child in the study with ASD was missed. By age 5 years, 37 (13.4%) infants with NE and one (0.2%) control had died. Among the 239 survivors of NE, 12 (5%) were diagnosed with an ASD. Of these, 10 (4.2%) met the full criteria for autism, one had pervasive developmental disorder‐not otherwise specified, and one had Asperger syndrome. Among the 563 surviving controls, five (0.8%) were diagnosed with an ASD: three with autism, one with autism/possible Asperger syndrome, and one with Asperger syndrome. Compared with the controls, the children who had experienced NE were 5.9 times (95% confidence interval 2.0–16.9) more likely to have been diagnosed with an ASD.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 51%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Autism following a history of newborn encephalopathy: more than a coincidence?

Badawi

Dixon

Felix

et al. 2006

Develop Med Child Neuro

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“…Active ascertainment studies such as that in a Welsh education authority have shown a minimum prevalence of 20.2 per 10 000 for children with ASD in mainstream schools; many of these children were unknown to specialist services and had unmet needs for further assessment and management. 30 Comparison of our two prevalence estimates suggests that only 74% of children with ASD were known to services (identified by any dataset). The age distribution might support the contention that this shortfall was primarily for younger and older children as prevalence across the age groups of 4-12 years was steady.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Prevalence of autistic spectrum disorders in Lothian, Scotland: an estimate using the "capture-recapture" technique

Harrison

O’Hare²,

Campbell³

et al. 2005

Archives of Disease in Childhood

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Aims: To determine the prevalence of autistic spectrum disorder in a geographically defined population for children receiving services and compare this to the estimated prevalence based on a two source ''capturerecapture'' technique previously employed in biological populations to give a ''true'' prevalence with full ascertainment. Methods: Information on gender, age, and postcode sector was determined from nine different datasets maintained for children with autistic spectrum disorder and point prevalence was calculated. Data from the diagnostic services and the Special Needs System were entered into the two source ''capture-recapture'' calculation. Results: Of a total population of 134 661 under 15 year olds resident in Lothian in southeast Scotland, 443 were known to autism services, with a point prevalence of 32.9 per 10 000 (95% CI 29.8 to 36.0). The estimated prevalence using a capture-recapture method was 44.2 (95% CI 39.5 to 48.9), which suggests that 74% of affected children were registered with services in some way. The age distribution was similar to that of the background population under the age of 12 years and there was no indication of a rising prevalence. The ratio of boys to girls was 7:1. Conclusions: The prevalence of autistic spectrum disorder in a geographically based population employing two source capture-recapture analysis is comparable to that quoted for the best active ascertainment studies. This technique offers a tool for establishing the prevalence of this condition in health service populations to assist in planning clinical services.

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“…We therefore used an estimate of 2.6/10 000 for AS for subsequent calculations. A recent survey of high‐functioning PDDs in Welsh mainstream primary schools has yielded a relatively high (uncorrected) prevalence estimate of 14.5/10 000 (Webb et al. 2003, study 43) but no separate rate was available for Asperger disorder specifically.…”

Section: Prevalence Estimationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Changing Epidemiology of Autism

Fombonne

2005

Research Intellect Disabil

316

173

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This article reviews epidemiological studies of autism and related disorders. Study designs and sample characteristics are summarized. Currently, conservative prevalence estimates are: 13/10000 for autistic disorder, 21/10000 for pervasive developmental disorders not otherwise specified, 2.6/10000 for Asperger disorder, and 2/100000 for childhood disintegrative disorder. Newer surveys suggest that the best estimate for the prevalence of all autistic spectrum disorders is close to 0.6%. A detailed analysis of time trends in rates of pervasive developmental disorders in then provided. It is concluded that most of the increase is accounted for by changes in diagnostic concepts and criteria, and by improved identification. Whether or not there is, in addition to these factors, a true increase in the incidence of the disorder cannot be examined from available data.

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Prevalence of autistic spectrum disorder in children attending mainstream schools in a Welsh education authority

Cited by 34 publications

References 14 publications

Autism following a history of newborn encephalopathy: more than a coincidence?

Autism following a history of newborn encephalopathy: more than a coincidence?

Prevalence of autistic spectrum disorders in Lothian, Scotland: an estimate using the "capture-recapture" technique

The Changing Epidemiology of Autism

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