Bologna, 2 April 2024 – Today on the occasion of the World Autism Awareness Daythe towers of the Region Emilia Romagna they will be colored with blu: a symbolic hug aimed at all people with autism and their families.
I am 6.558 i children they teenagers up to 18 years of age affected by autism spectrum disorders assisted, in 2023from the Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Service (NPIA) in Emilia Romagna, and other 1,194 adults they were followed, in the same period, by Mental Health Centers.
Autism and the color blue
Associated with blue color since 2007, the year of its establishment at the behest of the United Nationsthe Day aims to incentivize organizations that deal with autism to collaborate on research, diagnosis, treatment e social integration of people with autism.
What is autism
I autism spectrum disorders (Autism Spectrum Disorders, ASD) “are a heterogeneous group of serious neurodevelopmental disorders, characterized by a qualitative impairment in the areas of social interaction and communication, and by repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities” (Project ‘Observatory National for the Monitoring of Autism Spectrum Disorders’). The causes of autism I am, to this day, unknown.
Autism, diagnosis and treatments
We are constantly looking for suitable tools to guarantee a early diagnosis dell’autismtimely and effective management inclusion path that lasts a lifetime.
“There is growing evidence that theearly detection of the risk of autism and timely intervention, even before the disorder expresses itself in its fullness, can significantly reduce its interference on development and attenuate its final clinical picture. However, there is still a large time delay between the onset of the parents’ first concerns, the first consultation, and the age at which the diagnosis is made, which is currently around 4-5 years”. (National Observatory Project for the Monitoring of Autism Spectrum Disorders).
Last year they were assigned by the Emilia Romagna Region to Man (Integrated regional plan for assistance to people with autism spectrum disorders) 4 million and 230 thousand eurosto which must be added the resources used by local health authorities for the outpatient treatment of people diagnosed with autism.
The Pria involves the monitoring of neurodevelopmental disorders and the reporting of suspected cases of autism by pediatricians; coordinated, personalized and specifically chosen interventions are indicated which include enabling activities and the supervision of school courses, which is taken care of by the sregional health service.
To support an early and shared intervention, the involvement of different subjects in the integration and treatment process is necessary: family, educational workers, schools e healthcare.
Autism in Emilia Romagna: increasing cases, the numbers
In the 2011 the service assisted 1.584 children and adolescents (up to 18 years) with this disorder, become 6.558 In the 2023 (+314%). These are mostly males (78.6%) and for the 21,4% Of females.
Il Ministry of Health recalls that “the greater training of doctors, the changes in diagnostic criteria and the increased knowledge of the disorder by the general population, also connected to the socio-economic context, are factors to take into consideration” when interpreting the increase in cases diagnosed.
in Emilia Romagna, the ratio of the population aged 0-17 years is 8.9 per 1000 residents.
In the period considered, a increase of 61.3% also in the number of minors suffering from other disorders followed by child neuropsychiatry.
In 2023, out of 66,171 assisted by the regional Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Services, 10% (6,558 subjects) had an autism spectrum disorder. The 53.8% are between 6 and 13 years old, 25.4% less than 6.
Over the last 12 years, the number of services (treatments, visits, interviews) ensured for minors suffering from autism spectrum disorder has increased, reaching the number in 2023. 156,225 services, 23.6% of the total of 662,762.
Autism: area-by-area data in Emilia Romagna
I minors followed in 2023 by the services of Childhood and adolescent neuropsychiatry for ASL in Emilia Romagna they are distributed as follows: Piacenza 374, Parma 476, Reggio Emilia 1.033, Modena 1.422, Bologna 911, Imola 214, Ferrara 409, Romagna 1,736 (if the patient is treated in the same year by more than one ASL it is counted several times).
As for the adults suffering from autism spectrum disorders, the Mental Health Center has seen a significant increase in the number of people assisted in the last seven years: from 244 in 2015 to 1,194 in 2023.
The distribution by ASL is as follows: Piacenza 184, Parma 68, Reggio Emilia 117, Modena 124, Bologna 273, Imola 41, Ferrara 31 e Romagna 356.