Is autism on the rise?

Although the number of people diagnosed with autism has increased steadily in previous years, experts do not refer to this as an epidemic for two reasons. Firstly, an epidemic would mean there was a known cause for the “spread of autism” which there is not. Secondly, researchers believe this rise is due to an increase in awareness about the condition in people around the world, leading to more people getting help for their children at an earlier age.