Prevalence Indicators of Autism in the Modern Period, Epidemiology Statistics and İnternational Practice
Gumru Samedova 
Abstract. Epidemiological studies conducted in modern times show that the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has increased significantly compared to previous decades, which is due to both the expansion of diagnostic criteria and the strengthening of awareness. According to the World Health Organization, currently about 1 in 100 children in the world has an autism spectrum disorder; in some highly monitored countries, this figure is even higher - about 1 in 36–44 children. According to data from the CDC's Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) network in the USA, the prevalence of ASD has shown a steady increase in recent years; boys are diagnosed many times more often than girls, which is associated with different biological susceptibility and socio-diagnostic factors by gender. Similar dynamics are observed in most European countries: the introduction of early screening programs, close monitoring of developmental delays in preschool institutions, and increased parental awareness are increasing the number of officially registered cases. Many researchers attribute this to “diagnostic expansion” and improved statistical reporting rather than “real growth”.
Keywords: autism, epidemiology, prevalence, diagnostic, screening, international, development, risk, genetic, perinatal
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