Autism: a child out of 64 in Quebec diagnosed

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QMI agency

Thursday, 29 march 2018 13:55

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Thursday, 29 march 2018 13:55

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OTTAWA – A quebec child on 64, between the ages of 5 to 17 years of age, was diagnosed with a disorder on the autism spectrum (ASD), according to a new report published on Thursday by the public health Agency of Canada.

Thus, the overall prevalence of ASD in Quebec among this segment of the population was 15.5 per 1000 (1 in 64 or 1.6 %) in 2015. About three-quarters of cases are diagnosed before the age of 10 years in the province.

Across the country, the quebec data are close to the canadian average, with a child on the 66 who received a diagnosis of ASD.

In addition, this diagnosis is four times more frequent among boys than among girls in Canada. In addition, more than half (56 %) of children and adolescents diagnosed have been before the age of 6 years old and more than 90 % before the age of 12 years.

These are the first estimates of the prevalence rate of ASDS in children and adolescents at the national level. “This report is an important step for the scientists and researchers who study ASD, and it serves as the basis for improved decision-making based on evidence,” said Dr. Theresa Tam, director-in-chief of the public health agency of Canada.

Based on data from 2015, the report “spectrum Disorder autism in children and adolescents in Canada to 2018” has been prepared with the provinces, territories and agencies.

According to Ottawa, these data will allow to have a useful point of comparison for the researchers to evaluate the evolution of the prevalence rate of ASD over time.

“I hope that these data, in addition to the significant new investments proposed in the budget of 2018, will be able to improve the quality of life of people with ASD and their families”, said in a press release the federal minister of Health, Ginette Petitpas Taylor.

The findings are also similar to the figures observed in the United States that indicate that one child in 68 has received a diagnosis of ASD and that this diagnosis is 4.5 times more frequent in boys than in girls.