Final answer:
Autism Spectrum Disorder begins during early childhood and diagnosis rates have increased due to various factors including better awareness and diagnostics. It affects roughly 1 in 88 children and is four times more prevalent in males.
Step-by-step explanation:
Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), typically begins in early childhood, a crucial stage in human development that spans from infancy through to middle childhood. This period, covering the ages 1-5 years, includes the transition from toddlerhood, where children begin speaking and taking independent steps, to the preschool years, where they become more sociable and capable.
The increase in autism diagnoses between 1992 and 2005 can be partially explained by heightened awareness, improved diagnostic criteria, and better access to care. Studies indicate that ASD is four times more prevalent in males than females. With contemporary estimates suggesting that one in 88 children will develop ASD, understanding the factors contributing to the increase in diagnoses is pivotal for providing support and intervention.
Furthermore, hereditary patterns play a role in ASD, as shown by pedigrees where affected individuals (represented by filled symbols), deceased individuals (struck through symbols), and those who were not evaluated (dashed symbols), help trace the inheritance of genes predisposing to ASD during early developmental stages.