How Common is Autism?

A prevalence study by the Australian Advisory Board on Autism Spectrum Disorders in 2007 concluded that one in 160 Australian children aged between 6 and 12 years have an Autism Spectrum Disorder (Australian Advisory Board on Autism Spectrum Disorders, 2007) – that is over 10,000 Australian children in that age group. However some researchers suggest this figure could be as high as 1:100 (Gillberg & Wing, 1999).

That means the condition is now more common than cerebral palsy, diabetes, deafness, blindness and leukaemia put together.

There is a higher incidence of Autism in males than females.