I’m not an expert on autism but I suspect that changing definitions of the disease play a big role.
exactly.
just about every language/speech impaired or delayed speech toddler seems to be labeled autistic.
Autism is a debilitating illness and in my son’s “generation”,(he’s 28),the children presented as totally unresponsive unless they wanted to interact and of course their interactions were totally nonverbal,inappropriate etc.
Not to mention better access to health care services.
I believe that's the case over the last few years, and, in my opinion, it has to do with schools being able to get increased Federal Funding for "Special Ed" programs. They've expanded the types of Autism to include things like "Asperger's Syndrome", which could include shyness, or difficulty relating socially with other folks, which includes LOT of kids. I haven't seen the numbers of kids with profound Autism, and in my opinion, this broadening of the definition hasn't done anything to actually HELP those particular kids.