Autism Puzzle, The

Synopsis: Forty years ago, autism was highly obscure and was thought to affect only four to five children in every 10,000. Now some British teachers are claiming to see it in one in every 86 children. The programme asks if there is an epidemic of autism and, if so, what can be causing it. Or is it that awareness has grown and the definition of autism has changed over the years since 1943 when the term was first coined?

The programe considers several families touched by people suffering from Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). The writer Charlotte Moore talks about life with her three sons, two of whom are affected by autism. In another family Asperger’s Syndrome affects two brothers and doctors later diagnose their grandfather as a sufferer too. It explores new research being done into the disorders and the educational provisions available. The programme includes contributions from experts in the field, including Professor Fred Volkmar, Professor Anthony Bailey, Dr Lorna Wing and Professor Christopher Gillberg.
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Notes: Broadcast on BBC 2 on 8/4/03
Subjects: Medical sciences; Psychology; Social sciences; Social welfare
Keywords: Asperger’s syndrome; autism

Name: BBC Active Video for Learning - now BBC Learning
Contact: Carolina Fernandez Jeremy Wilcox (CF - for educational enquiries JW - channel sales manager)
Email: BBCStudiosLearning@bbc.com
Web: https://www.bbcstudioslearning.com/ External site opens in new window
Phone: +44 (0) 20 8433 1009
Address: BBC Studios Limited
Television Centre
101 Wood Lane
London
W12 7FA
UK
Notes: The BBC Active company has now been absorbed within BBC Learning, a division of BBC Studios. It was originally a joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Pearson Education. Formerly known as ‘BBC Worldwide Learning Studies’ and before that as ‘Videos for Education & Training’

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