According to the 2019, Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth (CHSCY) report, 1 in 50 (or 2.0%) Canadian children and youth aged 1 to 17 years were diagnosed with ASD. The survey is representative of the Canadian population aged 1 to 17 years as of January 31, 2019, living in private dwellings in Canada’s ten provinces and three territories.
Autism prevalence in Canada is led and coordinated by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). National Autism Spectrum Disorder Surveillance System (NASS) tracks the occurrence and demographic characteristics of children and youth with ASD, including estimates of prevalence, incidence, and key characteristics, patterns, and trends both over time and across geographic regions. It is a collaboration of federal, provincial, and territorial governments, working to build a comprehensive picture of ASD in Canada.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that includes deficits in social interaction and communication, as well as the presence of restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Each person with ASD is unique, and the term “spectrum” refers to the wide variation in strengths and challenges reflected among those with the disorder (Autism Speaks Canada. What is Autism? 2021). Being autistic means that your brain may process information differently than non-autistic, or neurotypical, people.
The causes of Autism are not yet well understood. Research suggests that autism develops from a combination of genetic and nongenetic, or environmental, influences. Scientists have found rare changes in genes or mutations, as well as small common genetic variations in people with autism, implying a genetic component. A growing area of research focuses on the interaction of genetic and environmental factors.
Signs of autism usually appear by age 2 or 3. Early detection of ASD may provide an important opportunity for timely intervention, which has been considered “essential to achieving the best outcomes” (Pierce, Courchesne, & Bacon, 2016). Research suggests that early, intensive & structured intervention, based on the principles of applied behavior analysis, is effective in remediating the intellectual, linguistic, and adaptive deficits associated with autism (Remington et. al., 2007).
What Autism Is NOT
Awareness about autism is growing, but there is still a lot of confusion around what autism is, what causes it and how it affects people in very different ways.
The important thing is to ensure that we, and those around us, are properly educated as to what is and isn’t true about autism.
There are a ton of misconceptions and myths about autism and people with autism out there. These myths about autism can be offensive, harmful, stigmatizing, or just plain misleading, so making sure we spread the word about what autism is and isn’t is important to ensure that autistic people receive the support, help, and understanding they both need and deserve.
