"Connor Murphy walked in circles around his dad, then flopped down on the kitchen floor, got up and walked in circles again. His dad turned the 9-year-old's repetitive behavior into a chance to connect. "Want me to pick you up?" Matthew Murphy asked, lifting, tickling and spinning with his son. Such spontaneous moments are common in the Murphy household, which revolves around the needs of Connor and his twin brother Ronan, who both have profound autism."
"Autism rates have been rising for decades, and two of the main reasons for the increase have, in a strange twist, taken some of the focus off helping people with round-the-clock needs. The diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, adopted in 2013, is now very broad, including many people with low support needs. Also, better awareness of the condition has helped many more children get diagnosed than in the past - and most of those cases are relatively mild."
Two twin brothers have profound autism and will require 24-7 care for the rest of their lives. Autism rates have risen due to a broader 2013 autism spectrum disorder definition and improved awareness, which has increased diagnoses, especially milder cases. Some advocates seek a separate diagnosis for profound autism to secure services and ensure research inclusion for nonspeaking, minimally verbal individuals with intellectual disability. The Trump administration is promoting debunked claims about autism causes, which experts say fuels misinformation and complicates public-health efforts even as research funding increases. An estimated 1 in 31 U.S. children have autism spectrum disorder.
Read at Boston.com
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