Autism Spectrum Disorder: Increased Population, Academics, and Society

By Jason Green

A new study found that there are 60 million people with Autism in the world [1]. Autism, officially known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ADS), is under the umbrella of neurodiversity. The term neurodiversity relates to a person's brain that deviates from a  “normal” brain (Neurotypical brain). Those with ASD may exhibit behavior that is unaccustomed to their respective society or culture, as autism is just one of many forms of the brain. The characteristics and symptoms of ASD vary person to person but some common ones include:

• Social communication and interaction challenges (for example, difficulty with interpreting non-literal language.) 

• Avoiding eye contact 

• Obsessive interests (hyperfixations)

• Repetitive behavior (stimming) such as body movements or repeated phrases [2,3,4].

1 in 36 children have ASD in the United States, according to the CDC. It is estimated that  the population of ASD persons in the US is over five million as of 2017 [5]. The rate and prevalence have only increased in the US. ASD in males compared to females are four times as common [1,4]. The cause for the condition is not singular, but multifaceted, as it comes from environmental factors to genetics [6]. 

Comorbidity, meaning having two or more medical conditions at once, is not uncommon to see in disabled individuals. Individuals with ASD also have trends of comorbidity such as ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Within one study, it found that ADHD affected 1 in 3 children with ASD. Besides ADHD, the study also included intellectual disabilities, which affected 21.7% percent of children with ASD [7].

Academics 

Students with ASD tend to face significant challenges in their academics. To help them, it requires collaboration with the student, their parents/guardians and teachers. Under special education, students may benefit  from IEPs (Individualized Education Plan), in which it can give students with ASD accommodations that could mitigate their academic challenges. Some academic obstacles consist of staying organized, hypersensitivity to sensations that easily makes one overwhelmed. Group activity could  present a predicament for students with ASD due to language delays [8,9]. IEPs can assess these challenges, find solutions and set measurable goals related to them. 

Combining ASD with an intellectual disability could exacerbate and create more obstacles, as there are many individuals with ASD that fall under average or above-average IQ quotients [10]. Intellectual disabilities can cause much lower IQs. Special Education classes can be an effective program for those with ASD, as accommodations can be prioritized unlike general education classes, where accommodations may be harder to implement due to teachers’ ineffective training and lack of knowledge [8]. 

Even with support established , there are academic deficits that are unfavorable towards students with ASD. Only 74% of students with ASD graduate with a diploma, which is 12% less than compared to all students, which is 86%. In a slight shortcoming, 8% ASD students drop out in comparison to 5% of all students drop out [11]. There are significantly worse shortcomings for these students in higher education. Underrepresented, 14% high school students with ASD go on to graduate from college. One factor that could make the transition to college difficult is that these students no longer have IEPs, but they primarily have to self-advocate [12].

Social Stigma

Because the behavior typically displayed by people with ASD is seen as peculiar such as their hyperfixations or stimming , they are prone to bullying. 46% of students in middle and high school have stated that they have been bullied to their parents [13]. Then, there is an entrenched conspiracy that says that vaccinations cause ASD, however, there is no evidence to support this claim. Fortunately, there has been an increase in understanding of ASD. Recognizing prominent figures with ASD shows the potential that people with this disability could accomplish. What has also contributed to this increased understanding is that there is much more representation in the media, from books to movies, compared to previous decades.

In more recent news, a bill in California was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 28, 2024, called AB 438 that allows the transition services from school services to postsecondary adulthood to begin its services during their first year of high school instead of the threshold of 16 years of age. This bill will be in effect starting July 1, 2025 [14].

On a national level, the Autism Cares Act was put into law after it was signed by Former President Biden on December 23, 2024.  The bill will help support research, services and prevalence tracking into ASD in the United States [15]. While People with ASD face academic and societal challenges, the United States, the world, are progressively understanding the condition. 

Works Cited  

[1] Autism prevalence reaches 61.8 million globally, study shows. (n.d.). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-12-global-prevalence-autism-spectrum-disorder.html 

[2] “Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.-b). Signs and symptoms of autism spectrum disorder. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/autism/signs-symptoms/index.html 

[3] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.-a). Data and statistics on autism spectrum disorder. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/autism/data-research/index.html 

[4]  Kalandadze, T., Norbury, C., Nærland, T., & Næss, K. B. (2018). Figurative language comprehension in individuals with autism spectrum disorder: A meta-analytic review. Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 22(2), 99–117. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361316668652 

[5] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.-c). Key findings: Estimated number of adults living with autism spectrum disorder in the United States, 2017. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/autism/publications/adults-living-with-autism-spectrum-disorder.html 

[6] What causes autism?. Autism Speaks. (n.d.). https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-causes-autism 

[7] Khachadourian, V., Mahjani, B., Sandin, S., Kolevzon, A., Buxbaum, J. D., Reichenberg, A., & Janecka, M. (2023). Comorbidities in autism spectrum disorder and their etiologies. Translational psychiatry, 13(1), 71. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-023-02374-w 

[8] Mallory, C., & Keehn, B. (2021). Implications of Sensory Processing and Attentional Differences Associated With Autism in Academic Settings: An Integrative Review. Frontiers in psychiatry, 12, 695825. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.695825 

[9] Al Jaffal, M. (2022). Barriers general education teachers face regarding the inclusion of students with autism. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.873248

[10] Glock, M. (2024, April 28). Average or high IQ in individuals with ASD may be higher than previously estimated. Autism Research Institute. https://autism.org/average-or-high-iq-in-individuals-with-asd-may-be-higher-than-previously-estimated/ 

[11] Autism statistics and facts. Autism Speaks. (n.d.-a). https://www.autismspeaks.org/autism-statistics-asd 

[12] Minot, D. (2021, August 11). The key to true success in college and beyond. Autism Spectrum News. https://autismspectrumnews.org/the-key-to-true-success-in-college-and-beyond/ 

[13] Rizkalla, B. A. (2019, October 7). Research brief: Children with autism at risk for bullying. StopBullying.gov. https://www.stopbullying.gov/blog/2012/10/30/research-brief-children-with-autism-at-risk-for-bullying 

[14] Bill Text - AB-438 Pupils with exceptional needs: individualized education programs: postsecondary goals and transition services. (n.d.). https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB438 

[15] H.R.7213 - 118th Congress (2023-2024): Autism CARES Act of 2024. (2024, December 23). https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/7213