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The prevalence of IT jobs may be linked to increases in autistic children

By Staff Writer

Researchers from Cambridge University recently conducted a study that indicates that autism diagnoses are more common in areas where information technology (IT) is common. These communities also tend to be rich in what researchers call "systemizing," or the need to analyze how systems work as well as how to build systems.

Previous research shows that there is a connection between systemizing adults and autism. The fathers and grandfathers of autistic children tend to hold jobs that are related to engineering, while mathematicians are more likely to have a sibling with an autism spectrum disorder.

For their study, researchers analyzed families in different regions of the Netherlands, including Eindhoven, where 30 percent of jobs are IT-related, Haarlem, where 16 percent of positions are in this field, and Utrecht, where 17 percent of jobs are IT-based.

The study's results showed that the prevalence of autism was much higher in Eindhoven than the other two regions.

Children who have autism and need extra support in their academics or social interactions may want to consider enrolling in therapeutic schools.

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