Don't Forget U.S. Autism Awareness Month - April 2006

This is certainly a busy month in terms of the number of particular health challenges facing society that we are asked to focus awareness on. I have already mentioned that April 2006 is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and also Sexual Assault Awareness Month. These are very serious issues and certainly worthy of attention.

At the risk of diverting attention rightly due elsewhere, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have notified that April 2006 is also Autism Awareness Month. Autism too, is something that could benefit from far wider community awareness so I commend the CDC's following notice to you.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are lifelong developmental disabilities characterized by unusual social and communication development and the presence of unusual or repetitive behaviors and interests (1). These conditions affect an estimated 2--6 per 1,000 children (2), making autism a serious public health concern. Early identification and intervention can help children progress in their development and show improvements in their language, cognitive, social, motor, and other developmental skills (3).

April is Autism Awareness Month. In collaboration with partners, CDC is conducting a public awareness campaign to educate health-care and child-care providers regarding potential early warning signs of autism and other developmental disabilities. Additional information about autism and the CDC campaign are available at http://www.cdc.gov/autism and http://www.cdc.gov/actearly.

References

1. American Psychiatric Association. Criteria for the pervasive developmental disorders. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fourth edition, text revision. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; 2000.
2. CDC. How common are Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs)? Atlanta, GA: CDC, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities; 2005. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/asd_common.htm.
3. National Research Council's Committee on Educational Interventions for Children with Autism. Educating children with autism. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2001.

Given the belief by many that autism is linked to constituents in vaccines it certainly seems appropriate that the CDC shows interest in autism. The CDC is a consistent and vigorous proponent of vaccination.