The Newest Research on Autism

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in 68 children (or 14.7 per 1,000 eight-year-olds) in multiple communities in the United States has been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).  This new estimate is roughly 30 percent higher than previous estimates reported in 2012 of 1 in 88 children (11.3 per 1,000 eight year olds) being identified with an autism spectrum disorder.    The number of children identified with ASD ranged from 1 in 175 children in Alabama to 1 in 45 children in New Jersey” (4/27/2014 press release).

Autism Speaks, a not for profit advocacy organization, devoted to understanding autism from all perspectives  (research, treatment, effects on family) has made contributions to the understanding of ASD which greatly enhance the lives of those living with ASD, their families and communities.

Dr. Paul Wang, SVP Autism Speaks and head of medical research, will talk with us about the 2013 Top Ten Advances in Autism Research winners as identified by Autism Speaks.

It should be emphasized that the earlier a child is diagnosed with ASD and receives therapeutic services, his/her life chances for education, employment, and overall socialization dramatically increase.

Dr. Paul Wang joined Autism Speaks in September 2013 as the organization’s senior vice president and head of medical research.
Dr. Wang graduated from Harvard College with a bachelor of arts in biomedical sciences and received his medical degree from the Yale University School of Medicine. He completed a residency and chief residency in pediatrics at the University of Michigan, a research fellowship at the Salk Institute and a clinical fellowship at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).