Rising Autism Rates: Why and What You Can Do

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With rising autism rates, the autism rate is now 1 in 36 children. Learn how viewing autism as a whole-body condition can help your child in this webinar interview of Beth Lambert, the Executive Director of Epidemic Answers and the Documenting Hope Project. You can watch the replay below.


Rising Autism Rates

The autism rate is now believed to be 1 in 36 children, which is 2.8% of children, 4% of boys, and 1 in 20 boys (5%) in California. When Epidemic Answers opened its doors in 2009, the autism rate was 1 in 150.

We ARE better at diagnosing autism due to increased awareness and due to better diagnostic tools and tracking, but it simply cannot account for the meteoric increase in children with autism since the 1980s. If we’ve gone from 1 in 150 children in 2009 to 1 in 36 in 2023 due to better diagnosing, this means we “missed” about 1.5 million kids (or 75% of those diagnosable).

Our Senior Scientist, Randy Reiserer, looked at the U.S. Department of Education IDEA data, which documents increases in the services in school provided to children with autism from 2005 to 2019 by state. In this chart, you can see that states were paying increasing amounts for autism services in that time period. States would not have made these payments unless there was a verifiable diagnosis. Thus, these data help prove that rising autism rates weren’t simply due to better diagnosis.

Autism Is a Whole-Body Condition

We have a dramatic and frank epidemic on our hands. So what can you do about it? At Epidemic Answers and our Documenting Hope Project, we look at autism (as well as most other chronic and developmental conditions) as whole-body conditions. By addressing root causes such as toxicity, nutritional deficiencies, gut dysbiosis, inflammation and immune dysregulation, children can heal from the collection of symptoms known as autism. Not all children can or do, but there are far more success stories out there than what you’re probably hearing about.

In This Webinar

In this webinar, Beth Lambert discussed:

Please note that you will be asked to provide your email address at the 30-minute mark to continue viewing the replay.

About Beth Lambert

Beth Lambert is a former healthcare consultant and teacher. As a consultant, she worked with pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostic and other health care companies to evaluate industry trends.

She is the author of A Compromised Generation: The Epidemic of Chronic Illness in America’s Children (Sentient Publications, 2010).

She is also a co-author of Epidemic Answers’ Brain Under Attack: A Resource for Parents and Caregivers of Children with PANS, PANDAS, and Autoimmune Encephalitis.

In 2009, Beth founded Epidemic Answers and currently serves as Executive Director. Beth attended Oxford University and graduated from Williams College and holds a Masters Degree in American Studies from Fairfield University. She is a member of Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit Honor Society. Beth is also the mother of three children.

Disclaimer

This webinar is not a substitute for medical advice, treatment, diagnosis, or consultation with a medical professional. It is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be relied on to make determinations related to treatment of a medical condition. Epidemic Answers has not verified and does not guaranty the accuracy of the information provided in this webinar.

Still Looking for Answers?

Visit the Epidemic Answers Practitioner Directory to find a practitioner near you.

Join us inside our online membership community for parents, Healing Together, where you’ll find even more healing resources, expert guidance, and a community to support you every step of your child’s healing journey.

Sources & References

Blaxill, Mark, et al. Autism Tsunami: the Impact of Rising Prevalence on the Societal Cost of Autism in the United States. J Autism Dev Disord. 2022 Jun;52(6):2627-2643.

Carey, Benedict. Study Puts Rate of Autism at 1 in 150 U.S. Children. The New York Times, 9 Feb 2007.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Data & Statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorder. Accessed 4 Apr 2023.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevalence and Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 8 Years — Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 Sites, United States, 2020. Accessed 24 Mar 2023.

Hertz-Picciotto, I., et al. The rise in autism and the role of age at diagnosis. Epidemiology. 2009 Jan;20(1):84-90.

Li, Q., et al. Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children and Adolescents in the United States From 2019 to 2020. JAMA Pediatr. 2022 Sep 1;176(9):943-945.

Maenner, M.J., et al. Prevalence and Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 8 Years – Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 Sites, United States, 2018. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2021 Dec 3;70(11):1-16.

Rosen, N.E., et al. The Diagnosis of Autism: From Kanner to DSM-III to DSM-5 and Beyond. J Autism Dev Disord. 2021; 51(12): 4253–4270.

Treffert, D.A. Epidemiology of Infantile Autism. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1970;22(5):431-438.

Waterhouse, L. Autism overflows: increasing prevalence and proliferating theories. Neuropsychol Rev. 2008 Dec;18(4):273-86.

Resources
Books

Bock, Kenneth. Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies: The Groundbreaking Program for the 4-A Disorders. New York, NY. Ballantine Books, 2008.

Brandes, Bonnie. The Symphony of Reflexes: Interventions for Human Development, Autism, ADHD, CP, and Other Neurological Disorders, 2016.

Campbell-McBride, Natasha. Gut and Psychology Syndrome: Natural Treatment for Autism, Dyspraxia, A.D.D., Dyslexia, A.D.H.D., Depression, Schizophrenia, 2010.

Giustra-Kozek, Jennifer. Healing without hurting: treating ADHD, apraxia, and autism spectrum disorders naturally and effectively without harmful medication. Howard Beach, NY: Changing Lives Press, 2014.

Handley, J.B. How to End the Autism Epidemic. Chelsea Green Publishing, 2018.

Herbert, Martha, Weintraub Karen. The Autism Revolution: Whole-Body Strategies for Making Life All It Can Be. New York: Ballantine Books; 2012.

Hong, Maria Rickert. Almost Autism: Recovering Children from Sensory Processing Disorder, A Reference for Parents and Practitioners. 2014.

Kaufman, Raun K. Autism breakthrough: the groundbreaking method that has helped families all over the world. First edition. ed. New York: St. Martin’s Press; 2014. x, 353 p.p.

Lambert, Beth, et al. Brain Under Attack: A Resource for Parents and Caregivers of Children with PANS, PANDAS, and Autoimmune Encephalitis. Answers Publications, 2018.

Lemer, Patricia S. Outsmarting Autism: The Ultimate Guide to Management, Healing and Prevention for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Tarentum, PA, Word Association Publishers, 2014.

Romaniec, Mary. Victory Over Autism: Lessons on Raising an Autism-Free Child. New York, NY: Skyhorse Publishing, 2015.

Sears, Robert W. The Autism Book: What Every Parent Needs to Know about Early Detection, Treatment, Recovery, and Prevention. 1st ed. New York, NY: Little, Brown, 2010.

Seroussi, Karyn. Unraveling the Mystery of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder: A Mother’s Story of Research and Recovery. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000.

Resources Mentioned in This Webinar

Autism Rate Increased Again?

Does the CDC Memory Hole the Real Autism Rates (or Is There Something Worse Going on?)

Documenting Hope CHIRP™ Study

Preliminary Results from the CHIRP™ Study

Webinar Replay: Fecal Transplants and The Gut Microbiome

Webinar Replay: Autism as a Whole-Body Condition: Inside the Documenting Hope FLIGHT™ Study

Webinar Replay: Brain Harmony

Lemer, Patricia S. Outsmarting Autism: The Ultimate Guide to Management, Healing and Prevention for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Tarentum, PA, Word Association Publishers, 2014.

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Webinar Replay: Homotoxicology: A Safe and Gentle Approach to Detoxification for Children of All Ages

Tony: Recovery from PDD-NOS/Autism with Homotoxicology

Webinar Replay: Nourishing Hope for Autism, ADHD, Asperger’s and Allergies

Elimination Diet

BodyEcology.com

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