About Autism

In Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Nassau County, & Suffolk County

What is autism?
Autism is a complicated disorder of the nervous system that usually persists throughout a child’s entire life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 child out of every 150 is diagnosed with autism at present, making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes and AIDS, collectively.

Autism occurs in all racial, ethnic, and social groups, however, it is four times more common in boys than girls. This complex condition impairs a child’s ability to communicate and connect with others, and it is generally associated with strict routines and repetitive behaviors. Children with autism may arrange objects compulsively or follow precise routines, with symptoms varying from mild to severe.

 

As a medical malpractice law firm, we will fight for children whose autism may have been caused by medical negligence during birth. We have helped families dealing with birth injuries throughout New York, including the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island.

 

Facts about autism:

• 1 in 150 children is diagnosed with autism
• 1 in 94 boys is on the autism spectrum
• Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism
• 67 children are diagnosed each day
• Every 20 minutes, a new case is diagnosed
• More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with pediatric cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined
• Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the country
• Autism costs the nation over $35 billion per year
• Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases
• Autism has no single, known cause, but some probable causes include genetic errors, environmental factors and problems experienced at birth

 

According to the CDC, autism is one of a group of disorders known as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). In addition to autistic disorder, which is also known as “classic autism”, the autism spectrum disorder category also includes Asperger’s Syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD/NOS). When Rett’s Syndrome and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD) are included, the group is then referred to as Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD).

 

Autism is the most common ASD. The disorder begins before a child reaches the age of 3, and typically lasts their entire life. Data released by the CDC in 2007 reported that about 1 in 150 eight year old children in various areas of the country had autism. Previous data from 1998 found that 5,142 school age students in the U.S. had autism and only 3,443 were identified as having the disorder in 1995. In the 2007-2008 school year, 1 in 170 eight year olds in the New York State public school system had been diagnosed with autism, according to the National Center For Education Statistics.

 

The prevalence of autism has been rising steadily as a result of earlier diagnosis and improved diagnostic procedures, as well as increased awareness of autism and related disorders. Boys are four times more likely to have autism than girls, and almost 1 in 94 boys are on the autism spectrum, according to the CDC.

 

Why contact an attorney?

Some children might be entitled to significant compensation for their condition. If you believe your child’s autism was caused by medical negligence on the part of a doctor or hospital.

 

If your child has suffered a birth injury that may have been preventable, please call or e-mail us today. One of our experienced birth injury attorneys in New York, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk will evaluate your case for free.

 

 

 

Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C.
Call Us Toll Free
1.877. ASK 4 SAM