Autism in Iran

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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in 160 children will receive an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis.

Measuring the prevalence of autism in low and middle-income countries can be challenging due to a lack of universal guidelines for diagnosing autism.

Iran has only published one study showing the prevalence of ASD in Iran in 2012. This study found that approximately 0.06% of Iranian children are on the autism spectrum against the global average of 1%. With a population of nearly 84 million, outside studies estimate that the rate of autism in Iran is closer to 90 per 10,000 children or 0.9%.

As a middle-income country, Iran has struggled to meet the needs of its autistic population. While children can receive an autism diagnosis as early as 2 years old, most Iranian children on the spectrum do not obtain a diagnosis until 5 or 6 years old. Iran ASD screening procedures do not undergo implementation until the “pre-school medical examination,” which is not a requirement until first-grade registration.

Nonprofit advocacy organization Iran Autism Association (IAA) stated that people with autism were not recognized as “incurable” in Iran until 2019. Since achieving this milestone, many improvements have occurred in diagnosis.

In 2018, Iranian behavioral specialists developed a comprehensive system that uses technology to assess and diagnose ASD in kindergarteners. The smart system uses interactive games to analyze the behaviors of young children. Furthermore, the system operates independently and does not need management from physicians, which increases accessibility and allows for widespread implementation across Iran.

While improvements are still needed in the area of early screening and diagnosis of autism, Iran is making efforts to advance research and develop innovative technology to meet the needs of its autistic population.

As of 2021, Iran had established 47 schools for children with ASD. Unfortunately, the ASD schools only provide educational services to around 3,000 students or a fraction of the population of autism in Iran.

It was not until 2018 that a treatment center emerged in Iran which offered a more holistic approach to autism intervention, similar to The Hope Source. Brown states that it is critical to address all the needs of children on the spectrum beyond behavior therapy. The new treatment center offered a variety of services, including occupational therapy, speech therapy, physiotherapy and more.

In February 2021, Iran inaugurated a high-tech and innovative center for children with autism in the city of Qazvin. A highlight of the center entitled “The Autism Room” uses technology in interesting ways. Due to how people with ASD struggle with senses and are prone to overstimulation, “The Autism Room” aims to eliminate any overwhelming sensory factors including sound, smell and light. The room works to calm the individual and help the people focus for training in special aid exercises, which helps the people control their body movements. Finally, the high-tech room can transform to demonstrate sensory overload to people not on the spectrum, increasing empathy, understanding and advocacy.