BRIDGETON A study done by Childrens Specialized Hospital found high rates of autism in Bridgeton and five other New Jersey communities.
The hospital looked at schools in Newark, Plainfield, Elizabeth, Trenton, New Brunswick and Bridgeton and asked teachers to screen for autism in preschools and day care centers. The New Jersey Governors Council for Medical Research and Treatment of Autism funded the study, which was released Wednesday.
Autism, a neurodevelopment disorder, impaires social interaction and communication.
Researchers looked at an initial 1,000 children in the six locations.
The study found 31 children, which makes up 3 percent of the sample, to be on the autism spectrum. According to an article quoted on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, studies show the national average to be 1 percent.
We found that unless we go out into underserved communities, we are going to be missing many children who have autism, said Dr. Yvette Janvier, lead researcher, development/behavioral pediatrician and medical director at the Toms River Childrens Specialized Hospital. This is the first study to look at using teachers in preschools and day care centers to screen for autism.
Although parents and doctors are normally used to identify children with autism, the study used teachers as a way to evaluate the children.
According to Beth Bevan, a licensed clinical social worker at CompleteCare Health Network, teachers can better identify children with autism because they are able to compare the child with their peers.
Teachers spend a lot of time with children and observe a lot of behavior, Bevan said.
Evaluations that determine whether a child has autism usually begin at 18 months to 24 months, according to American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines. However, with racial and economic disparities, many poor children miss out on early intervention.
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Bridgeton autism rate above average, according to Children's Specialized Hospital study