Autism: An Emergingn Global Health Problem

Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Emerging Global Health Problem
The Global Problem
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), falling under the umbrella term of Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), is defined by the International Classification of Diseases, volume 10 (ICD-10) as a disorder first diagnosed in childhood by the clinical manifestation of marked impairment in communication and social interaction, and repetitive or stereotyped behaviors (“Pervasive developmental disorders,” 2010). This definition aligns with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-V), currently used in the United States (American Psychological Association, 2013).
Children are typically diagnosed with an ASD after the age of two when delays in development are first detected (“Facts About ASDs,” 2013). The earlier the diagnoses, the earlier treatment can be implemented. Although awareness of ASDs has increased over the past decade, especially with actions such the United Nations sponsored World Autism Day, there is a significant deficit in clinical understanding of diagnosis and treatment in many countries (United Nations, 2007). Unfortunately, in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) access to health care is limited to acute conditions requiring immediate care, or standardized tools for the screening and diagnosis of an ASD are lacking or completely absent (Elsabbagh et al., 2012). Even in high-income countries such as the United States and the countries of Europe, the availability and access to standardized screening and diagnostic tools is variable (Elsabbagh et al., 2012).
Countries that do not have access to evidenced-based screening and diagnostic tools subsequently do not have access to evidence-based treatments and care ...

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United Nations. (2007, December 18). World autism awareness day (Resolution 62/139). Retrieved from (http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/62/139
Wallace, S., Fein, D., Rosanoff, M., Dawson, G., Hossain, S., Brennan, L., Como, A. and Shih, A. (2012), A Global Public Health Strategy for Autism Spectrum Disorders. Autism Res, 5: 211–217. doi: 10.1002/aur.1236
World Health Organization. (2013, May 30). Comprehensive and coordinated efforts for the management of autism spectrum disorders (Document EB133/4). Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mental_health/action_plan_2013/eb_resolution_childhood/en/
Facts About ASDs. (2013, December 20). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved February 11, 2014, from http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/facts.html