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Epidemiological surveys of ASD: advances and remaining challenges

  • S.I.: Autism in Review: 1980-2020: 40 years after DSM-III
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Abstract

Recent worldwide epidemiological surveys of autism conducted in 37 countries are reviewed; the median prevalence of autism is .97% in 26 high-income countries. Methodological advances and remaining challenges in designing and executing surveys are discussed, including the effects on prevalence of variable case definitions and nosography, of reliance on parental reports only, case ascertainment through mainstream school surveys, innovative approaches to screen school samples more efficiently, and consideration of age in interpreting surveys. Directions for the future of autism epidemiology are discussed, including the need to systematically examine cross-cultural variation in phenotypic expression and developing surveillance programs.

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  1. Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, Mail code: GH254 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR, 97239, USA

    Eric Fombonne, Heather MacFarlane & Alexandra C. Salem

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  1. Eric Fombonne
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Eric Fombonne conceptualized the study, reviewed the literature, analyzed and interpreted the data, and drafted the manuscript. Heather MacFarlane and Alexandra C. Salem performed literature search, reviewed and analyzed the studies, and commented on the draft. All authors read and approved the final version.

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Correspondence to Eric Fombonne.

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Fombonne, E., MacFarlane, H. & Salem, A.C. Epidemiological surveys of ASD: advances and remaining challenges. J Autism Dev Disord 51, 4271–4290 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05005-9

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