A new report says an estimated one in every 66 Canadian children and youth aged five to 17 has autism spectrum disorder. Boys are four to five times more likely to be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, than girls. A Senate committee called for a national autism strategy more than 10 years ago in a report called Pay now or pay later: Autism families in crisis. Advocacy group Autism Canada welcomed the report, saying the prevalence findings reflect what the organization is "witnessing in the autism community" and that "the prevalence of autism is on the rise." "Regardless if this increase is due to better diagnostics, increased awareness or increased incidence, there is an urgent need for a national autism strategy," said Laurie Mawlam, Autism Canada's executive director, in a statement posted Thursday on the organization's website.

Source: CBC News March 29, 2018 17:04 UTC