Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnoses According to Years in Ordu Province

Objective: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a broad developmental disorder with cognitive developmental retardation and deviations beginning in early childhood and continuing for life, forming problems with behavior related to social relationships and communication. In recent years there has been an increase in the diagnosis of ASD both globally and in Turkey. This increase has been linked to disruption of the microbiota in the human body, gastrointestinal disorders, bad nutritional habits, excessive antibiotic use, Lyme disease and the use of vaccines in children. Globally a variety of rates are given related to the increase rate for ASD and the importance of the situation has been stated. However, there are no statistical data for Turkey. The purpose of this study is to evaluate ASD diagnostic data from Alt？nordu Guidance and Research Center (GCM) directorate in Ordu province. Thus, an initial attempt is made to fill the gap in the literature related to the increase rates of ASD in Turkey. Method: The research retrospective cohort investigated ASD diagnostic data from Alt？nordu GRC in Ordu province. Data were analyzed with the Pearson and single-sample chi-square test using the SPSS program. Results: The research identified a significant increase in the number of individuals with ASD in Turkey through the years. There was no difference between the year of diagnosis in the distribution by gender. Conclusion: Analyses related to the increase rate for ASD in Turkey were completed. Recommendations are presented related to the formation of basic policies for early diagnosis and treatment of ASD in Turkey and in line with this the need to attach importance given to diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal complaints, inclusion of programs to inform about appropriate nutritional habits, regulation of antibiotic use within the framework of smart medication use, and regulation of content related to diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease and vaccinations. It has been determined that the data obtained at the end of the study is not an artificial increase in diagnosis. It will also be appropriate to assess this situation in future work in this area