For the very first time, a very good step has taken to the Government Medical College & Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32 to find that how many children are affected with an autism disorder in Chandigarh. According to the doctors, this is the first time this survey is happening here in the city.

Survey for Autism Spectrum Disorder:

Autism is the neurodevelopment disorder that affects child’s ability to interact with others. Doctors from the Department of Psychiatry at the hospital said that this study is getting funds from Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR) and we will do a survey to know about the prevalence of autism among children of Chandigarh city. Previously survey was done but it was hospital based but now it will be done with the help of ICMR. Doctors have also planned to study the causes of ASD among the children. For the study, children aged between 1.5-10 years of age will be taken.

The city has divided into three zones:

According to the Doctors,  Hospital-based studies was unable to tell about the children who are affected with autism in Chandigarh because neighboring states also come to Chandigarh for treatment. For the survey to know about the prevalence of autism disorder in Chandigarh they had divided the city into three zones. They have also collected sample size of one lakh children for this study. A questionnaire that is in Hindi will be given to parents of suffering children from this autism disorder and they will tell everything about their children. The number of the children that are affected with autism is increasing according to the reports of GMCH. They have run a weekly autism clinic at the Institute and according to doctors, they are checking around seven or eight patients every month.