[SPAM?] Re: Big rise in child autism

[Guest guest]

No doubt. Yet, I go on my parents list for children with diabetes

and try to suggest (nicely) that they should really consider NOT

getting a thimerosal-containing flu shot for their child because a,

b, and c... and all hell breaks loose. The topic is banned because

it is " too controversial " and " upsets too many people " .

Sue M.

> > > > Big rise in child autism

> > > >

> > > > CRAIG BILDSTIEN

> > > >

> > > > http://tinyurl.com/sxa63

> > > >

> > > > RECORD numbers of South Australians are being diagnosed

with

> > > autism -

> > > > almost all of them children.

> > > >

> > > > Autism SA has reported a 51 per cent increase in referrals

in

> the

> > > past

> > > > year.

> > > >

> > > > The number of positive new cases has also jumped almost 20

per

> > > cent to

> > > > 384.

> > > >

> > > > Chief executive Jon says the increase

> is " unprecedented " and

> > > > creates major challenges for the community.

> > > >

> > > > All but about 40 are children, who Mr says are

likely

> to

> > > face

> > > > " bullying, teasing and harassment " at school because their

> symptoms

> > > > will be misunderstood.

> > > >

> > > > Many were also likely to be " mismanaged " by the mental

health

> > > system

> > > > as it struggled to come to grips with autism and asperger

> > > syndrome.

> > > >

> > > > Mr told The Advertiser yesterday his group

> was " searching

> > > for

> > > > answers " to explain the dramatic rise in new cases.

> > > >

> > > > " And the thing is, there is no doubt a huge number of

people

> who

> > > have

> > > > it that we don't know about, " Mr said.

> > > >

> > > > Of those diagnosed with autism and asperger's last year,

about

> 120

> > > > were under six, while the majority were school-age.

> > > >

> > > > Autism SA provides services for 2700 clients, including

1800

> > > > school-age children.

> > > >

> > > > However, despite a one-off grant of $180,000 last year to

> reduce

> > > > waiting lists, there remains a six-month delay for people

> seeking

> > > > diagnosis.

> > > >

> > > > " We were making some inroads, but the waiting times have

> > > unfortunately

> > > > blown out again, " Mr said.

> > > >

> > > > He believes part of the reason for the rise in referrals

> reflects a

> > > > greater awareness of autism within the community.

> > > >

> > > > The group's autism information hotline is now taking more

than

> 300

> > > > calls a month and more than 1200 people attended Autism SA

> training

> > > > sessions last year.

> > > >

> > > > " The challenge for us is to ensure continued growth in

> services to

> > > > match the increase in service demand, " Mr said.

> > > >

> > > > Autism SA Infoline: 1300 288476

> > > >

> > >

> >

>