Aug 18, 2014, FOX NEWS: Disabilities in children increase, physical problems decline

"I'm routinely backed up six months for new patients," said Norwood, chairman of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Council on Children with Disabilities.

Norwood thinks there is more awareness of these conditions and that some, including autism, are truly rising in prevalence. Autism is thought to result from genetic flaws interacting with many other factors. Some studies have suggested these may include parents' age and prenatal infections.

Aug 18, 2014, FOX NEWS: Disabilities in children increase, physical problems decline

"I'm routinely backed up six months for new patients," said Norwood, chairman of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Council on Children with Disabilities.

Norwood thinks there is more awareness of these conditions and that some, including autism, are truly rising in prevalence. Autism is thought to result from genetic flaws interacting with many other factors. Some studies have suggested these may include parents' age and prenatal infections.

Aug 18, 2014, USA Today: Parent-reported cases of disability in children rise  

Autism was not one of the 14 conditions of disability included in the NHIS dataset analyzed because it was established long before autism was widely recognized, Houtrow explains. "But we know from other research that the number of kids with a diagnosis of autism is increasing. We think we are capturing (them) in categories for 'other developmental problems' or 'other mental, emotional and behavior problems,' or 'intellectual disabilities.' "...

Aug 18, 2014,  Science World Report: Childhood Disabilities Have Increased by 21 Percent: Study Confirms

Though researchers are not entirely certain what factors are responsible for the increase,  according to Houtrow, less stigma surrounding mental health conditions and more parental awareness regarding their child's condition could have influenced responses that helped document the findings.

Aug 18, 2014, CNN: Childhood mental health disabilities on the rise

Over the past half century, the prevalence of childhood disabilities in the United States has been on the rise, possibly due to an increased awareness about these issues.

Aug 18, 2014, Medscape: Mental Health Disabilities in Children Up 21% in 10 Years

Lead author Amy Houtrow, MD, PhD, MPH, from the Departments of Physical Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, said that although the study was not designed to determine the reasons for the increase, the authors suspect from the parents' reports that some of the drivers include less stigma associated with mental health conditions, more awareness of disorders by parents and physicians, and more willingness by physicians to diagnose conditions.

Aug 18, 2014, Detroit Free Press: Parents are reporting more cases of disability in children

According to the most recent CDC report, 1 in 68 kids has been identified with an autism spectrum disorder, up from an estimated 1 in 88 in 2012 and 1 in 150 in 2007, "so most definitely" autism cases are a factor in the trend reported in this study, says Steven Pastyrnak, chief of pediatric psychology at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids. He was not involved in the new research.

CBS News: Mental disabilities in kids rise; physical problems decline

...The trend was fueled by increases in attention problems, speech problems and other mental or developmental disorders that likely include autism although that condition isn't identified in the analyzed data.

Aug 18, 2014, WebMD: Childhood Mental Disability Rates Up, Study Finds

Autism spectrum disorders, now thought to affect one in 68 U.S. children, was not one of the specific developmental disorders that parents could report. "Autism probably would have been listed by the parent as either 'other developmental problem,' 'other mental, emotional or behavioral problem' or 'intellectual disability' (also referred to as mental retardation)," Houtrow said.

Aug 18, 2014, UK Daily Mail: Rich parents claim their kids are less healthy with mental health disabilities on ...

Awareness of autism is likely contributing to the increase.

Aug 18, 2014, Pittsburgh Business Times: Study: Child disability rates continue to rise

Among those reasons is an increased openness about disabilities and increases in the rates of autism and attention deficit disorder, Houtrow said. The decline in reported physical limitations associated with asthma, a breathing problem related to constriction of the lung vessels, was likely the result of more effective medications that have been marketed to treat the disease, she said. 

Aug 18, 2014, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: More kids with mental disorders, Pittsburgh-based study shows

 Houtrow said her discovery does not necessarily mean impairments are proliferating more rapidly for higher-income families. Instead, she said, it could reflect better awareness, detection and services for those with easier access to health care. 

Aug 17, 2014, Washington Post: Analysis: Disabilities among US children increase slightly

The increases may partly reflect more awareness and recognition that conditions, including autism, require a specific diagnosis to receive special services, the researchers say....

 

The Dachel Media Update is sponsored by Lee Silsby Compounding Pharmacy and their OurKidsASD brand.  Lee Silsby Compounding Pharmacy is one of the largest and most respected compounding pharmacies in the country. They use only the finest quality chemicals and equipment to prepare our patients’ compounded medications and nutritional supplements. Customizing medication and nutritional supplements for our customers allows them to achieve their unique health goals.

Anne Dachel is Media Editor for Age of Autism and author of  The Big Autism Cover-Up: How and Why the Media Is Lying to the American Public, which goes on sale this Fall from Skyhorse Publishing.