What's Behind the Dramatic Rise in Autism Cases?

Dramatic Increase in Autism Diagnosis
In 1994, the diagnostic criteria used by clinicians to establish psychiatric diagnoses were changed, 
"This meant that autism was recognized as a range of disorders -- which is why we today call it autism spectrum disorder -- but it also meant changes in the specific symptoms that form the basis of an autism diagnosis,"
At least in Denmark, the researchers say, most of the increase -- 60 percent -- can be attributed to changes in diagnostic criteria and the inclusion of out-of-hospital diagnoses.
These findings should provide some relief for parents who've worried that the increase in numbers was caused solely by more kids actually developing the disorder, the study authors suggested.
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