Socioeconomics 'still play role in autism diagnoses'

Socioeconomic factors still play a role in autism diagnosis, according to a new study, which could mean that people from certain backgrounds are more likely to need respite care due to the condition.

Research published in the American Sociological review said that while socioeconomics no longer plays as big a part in autism diagnosis as it did at its height of rising prevalence, it is still a factor.

However, children from poor neighbourhoods are still less likely to be diagnosed with the condition than those from wealthy households, according to the study authors.

 Peter S Bearman, of Columbia University, said that this is in part due to a more even spread of knowledge about autism throughout different kinds of communities.

"It is also easier to find someone who can diagnose autism, so we no longer see these huge differences in rates of diagnosis. However, it appears that poor kids living in poor neighborhoods still are not being diagnosed," he added.

This comes after a study from the University of Washington Autism Centre found that young children with the condition who were comparatively uninterested in playing with toys could me more responsive to certain types of behavioural treatments.

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