extrapolation from Census information
By the numbers. The population of the USA is currently thought to be around 327.2 million persons.
Of those persons 209,128,094 are over the age of 18.
Using the 2 percent as the rate of occurrence of autism in the world population (an average obtained from statistics reported by various studies, estimates range from less than one percent to as high as 5 or 7 percent ) .
This means that there are 4,182,562 likely adults with autism in the population of the USA today. There are statistically 1.6 million children under age 18 who are likely to have autism. Check out the numbers. How many more adults in the USA are likely to be undiagnosed with autism given that autism was not even in the DSM until 1980, and not as we know it today.
Millions of $ are being made through diagnosis and ‘treatment’ of children with autism and every year 5,500 new adult autistics graduate high school and “out of the system”.
What about the millions of adults undiagnosed as children?
Why has somebody not seen the opportunity for working with elder autistic citizens for diagnosis, therapy, promoting health and self understanding??
A few people have.
We are slowly seeing a few “adult autism” clinics opening across the country. All have waiting lists of years, not months or days for adult clients wishing to obtain diagnosis, treatment, and information about adult autism.
What is keeping medical schools from teaching about autism as it presents in adults, and in opening such adult autism clinics?
What is stopping hospitals from providing these services?
Money talks.
All states now have mandates for insurance coverage of diagnosis and “treatment” of autism in adults.
What are they waiting for??????
OldLady With Autism 