MANILA, Philippines - The number of people with autism in the Philippines and other countries is on the rise, according to experts.
Dr. Alexis Reyes, Philippine Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics president, said there are no accurate statistics on autism in the Philippines but an upward trend has been observed across the globe. It is “imperative” to have a program to ensure a productive life for them despite their condition. Experts do not know why the number of people with autism is increasing. “There is no single cause so there is no single cure,” she said.
If the prevalence rate in the United States will be the basis, there are some 0.5 million Filipinos with the neuro-behavioral disorder. Of this figure, only two percent of them are given appropriate care. The ratio of autism in the US rose to 1:91 in 2009 from 1:150 a few years ago.
In 1960s-1980s the prevalence rate of autism in the US was 0.4 to 0.5 per 1,000 population but it increased to 0.71 to 1.1 per 1,000 children in 1990 and 4 to 6 per 1,1000. Autism is “likely the result of a variety of factors,” including genetic, infectious, neurologic, metabolism, immunological and environmental.
“Autism is not physical, it’s neuro-behavioral,” Doctor Reyes said. “That's what makes it very challenging for us… They look normal but they have social deficit, language problem, restricted interest and repetitive manners.” While autism is incurable, those who have it could still be productive if they would only be given adequate management and education.
Reyes said the initial cost of diagnosis for autism amounts to some P7,000. For follow ups in medical and educational, some P116,000 is required for the first year alone, she added. In the Philippines, there are only a few schools for children who have “special needs” and they are very expensive. And if there are public schools that offer special education, they mostly “fell short of expectation.”
Source: The Philippine Star (Updated November 04, 2009)
