Autism spectrum disorders (ASD), attention deficit disorder with – or without – hyperactivity (ADHD), dyslexia, but also dyscalculia, dysorthography, dyspraxia or dysgraphia, intellectual development disorders (IDD)… In the classroom, many teachers have the feeling of being in front of one “Escape” stands » Cases. As far as psychiatrists, pediatricians and other health professionals are concerned, we discuss the numbers with caution, also because“Strictly speaking, there is no epidemiological study specific to France and.” [qu’]We still have to argue by applying international studies to the demographic situation in France.” explains the health doctor Etienne Pot, appointed interministerial delegate of the National Strategy for Neurodevelopmental Disorders (TND) in November 2023, the three letters that refer to all these diseases.
However, extrapolating from surveys conducted in the United States and consistent with other findings, clinicians report a high incidence particularly in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. And it appears to be getting even worse: In the United States, 17.8% of children were affected by TND in 2015-2017, compared to 16.2% in 2009-2011, according to the study by researcher and health statistician Benjamin Zablotsky published in Pediatricsin 2019, which is a reference.
In many countries, the prevalence of these disorders appears to be following an upward trend over the last twenty years, particularly for ASD and ADHD. So much so that we are talking about up to one in six people locally who could be affected. A public health problem.
“The epidemiological data is a little dizzying,” Claire Compagnon, Etienne Pot’s predecessor as interministerial delegate, confirmed this in a speech to the Academy of Medicine in spring 2023. Anger after anger, the feeling is confirmed: According to Inserm, 700,000 people are affected by ASD, including around 100,000 minors. Between 3 and 6% of children are affected by ADHD; for “Dys” disorders between 4% and 5% of an age group… “It is also estimated that one in two neurodevelopmental disorders is linked to another.”, notes Etienne Pot. Of “co-occurrences”, he said again, confirming the need for screening “as early as possible”.
Screenings are increasing
This is the direction confirmed in the new Strategy 2023-2027 announced by the Executive in November 2023, which, after four autism plans, officially expands the scope of public action to all TND disorders, focusing in particular on identification “systematic” Developmental gaps from birth to 6 years of age.
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