University of Leicester to lead audit of adults w...(ion of depression. Professor Brugha...),Health

Professor Brugha said: This will be the worlds first ever study looking at the number of adults in the community who have an autism spectrum disorder.

There is growing recognition that this is a group of people with unrecognised invisible needs but who also often have strengths to offer to society that go largely untapped.

The cost of autism in Great Britain in children and adults has been estimated to run into many billions of pounds some of which may be due to unnecessary economic inactivity and also dependency on services that do not know how to recognise and support their needs appropriately.

The survey involves interviews and examinations of a random sample of people who may have the condition and where possible the collection of information from family and carers. Statistical methods are then used to summarise the data and estimate how many people have the condition and what are their circumstances. The results will appear in published reports for the government, public health and local health and social care services and articles in scientific journals. The Government has stated that the information will be used to develop a national plan to support these people.

Ivan Lewis said: "Adults with autism and Asperger's syndrome are too often abandoned by services with their families left to struggle alone. Equally, people are frequently misappropriately referred to either mental health or learning disability services

"This study will inform the development of a national strategy designed to ensure that adults with autism and Asperger's syndrome are supported to have full lives."

"We still don't know enough about autism, but we do know that left unsupported, it can have a devastating impact on those who have the condition and their families. One of the key gaps in our knowledge is simple - we don't know how many people have the condition in any given area. That is why I am ord
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