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Parliamentary question - E-003097/2021Parliamentary question
E-003097/2021

Increasing prevalence of autism spectrum disorders

Question for written answer  E-003097/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Chiara Gemma (NI), Tiziana Beghin (NI), Laura Ferrara (NI), Daniela Rondinelli (NI), Mario Furore (NI), Dino Giarrusso (NI), Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI)

Autism-Europe believe – and evidence from recent international studies shows – that there has been a rapid and widespread increase in the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), which now affect some 5 million people in Europe.

According to a recent study by Autism Spectrum Disorders in Europe (ASDEU) on the prevalence of autism in 11 Member States, around 1 child in 89 has ASD. Even more alarming, according to the Italian National Institute of Health, the figure is 1 child in 77 in Italy, in other words, autism directly affects at least 500 000 households.

Although the disorder’s prevalence is increasing rapidly, ASDEU has pointed out that there is no EU-wide registration or monitoring system for ASDs and that the absence of a system may be hindering the development of proper forecasts and action. What is more, ASDEU reported that this increase has not been mirrored by improvements in diagnosis or intervention.

In the light of these alarming estimates and the commitments made in the latest European Disability Strategy:

Last updated: 21 June 2021
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