| It is quite well known that at this point in time there | | | | is not set up properly and that therapy will prevent |
| is no actual cure for autism, yet an earlier diagnosis | | | | further damage and partially repair the problem. Every |
| of the disorder will help in selecting a treatment that | | | | year that delays the therapy appears to allow the |
| will help the individual better cope with day to day | | | | nervous system to solidify and stabilize its condition |
| life. Therapy may be in two different forms, | | | | making it harder and harder to effect proper repairs. |
| depending on the degree of autism exhibited by the | | | | The most unfortunate thing is that less than 10 |
| patient. In examining the autism statistics, the earlier | | | | percent of the diagnosed children are recommended |
| the therapy is started, the more positive will be the | | | | for therapy, and only 3%-4% actually do receive |
| results. in general terms it appears that treatment | | | | treatment. the reason for this is that the therapy is |
| administered to a child between two to three years | | | | expensive and costs more then most people can |
| old, has the most chance of success. Waiting until the | | | | afford. The autism statistics clearly indicate that a |
| later ages can decrease this result by as much as 36 | | | | minimum of 25 hours of therapy per week is |
| percent. | | | | necessary for any hope of improvement. The costs |
| Steady Rise Over Two Decades | | | | are prohibitive and the government does not have |
| According to the latest autism statistics, the number | | | | sufficient funds or the priority to help. Many parents, |
| of children diagnosed with autism is rising steadily. It | | | | will try and undertake special training themselves so |
| appears that since the 80's the number of people | | | | that they can administer the required therapy and |
| afflicted with this condition has increase by 600%. | | | | help their autistic child. In the absence of a better |
| These children can only hope that their therapy will | | | | solution this will have to do for now. The real solution |
| start before they are three years old and even then | | | | is for the government to recognize the need to step |
| the chance of a total recovery is less then 40%. | | | | in and provide help. Only then will this problem even |
| Doctors say that the autistic child's nervous system | | | | begin to be resolved. |