Autism "epidemic"--does it exist?

Busy yesterday and today, but I saw a brief mention of a study yesterday that Orac has discussed in more detail today. The study questions whether an "autism epidemic," as frequently cited in the anti-vaccination literature, has really occurred in the United States or not.

So, in nearly all states, as the reporting of autism cases for special education administrative purposes increased, the reporting of mental retardation and learning disabilities declined correspondingly, suggesting that children who once would have been classified as mentally retarded or learning disabled were now more appropriately being classified as having autism or ASDs.

Much more at the link.

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