The number of children suffering from autism has been rising
rapidly in China and now there are altogether 1.8 million children
with autism across the country.
Bai Xueguang, a professor of neurology at the Hubei
Province People's Hospital in Wuhan, said that he sees an
average of five to six autistic children each month.
Bai, who is also vice chairman of Wuhan's Association of
Rehabilitation for Children with Autism, estimates the number of
children with autism is growing at an annual rate of 20 percent
nationwide, topping the world average of 14 percent.
Autism is a complex developmental disorder best known for
impairing a child's ability to communicate and interact with
others. Sufferers, mostly boys, develop obvious symptoms of the
disease between one and three years old.
Professor Bai believes that children with autism should receive
medical treatment between the ages of 2 and 12. With proper care at
the right time, 20 to 30 percent of sufferers with the incurable
disease will be able to live independently when they grow up.
(Xinhua News Agency August 12, 2004)