2007年VOA标准英语-Autism More Common Than Thought

By Paul Sisco
Washington, DC
12 February 2007
 
watch Autism report

A new survey in the United States indicates that approximately one in every 150 children in the country has autism, suggesting the condition may be more common than previously¹ thought.  Earlier studies had placed the prevalence of autism at one in 166 American children.  Paul Sisco has more.

 
The new survey of children with autism is the largest and most comprehensive ever undertaken.  It shows that about 560,000 children in the Untied² States have the condition. Wendy Stone's child is one of them. "I'm hoping that one in 150 is alarming enough to the government and our health care providers for them to pay a lot of attention."

Autism is a little-understood neurological and behavior syndrome³ that interferes⁴ with a child's ability to relate or interact with others.  Many of its victims are withdrawn⁵ and have difficulty speaking. The new survey by the Centers for Disease, Control and Prevention is not a nationwide study and is based on data from only 14 states. Still, many in the medical community, and among support groups, found the numbers staggering.

 
Wendy Stone
Lee Grossman, with the Autism Society of America, says the numbers may be higher. "It actually validates⁶ what we've been saying all along.  The numbers of people being with autism is much higher than what had been previously stated."

The U.S. Congress recently allocated⁷ $945 million to learn more about the condition.

Grossman says the funds may not be enough. "We need to go back to Congress and the agencies to ask for more services for this growing population."

More money on research is needed because very little is known about possible risk factors for autism, what causes it, or even how to recognize it biologically. It is known that if an autistic child is identified before the age of three, intervention⁸ is much more effective.

1 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

2 untied   

松开，解开( untie的过去式和过去分词 )； 解除，使自由； 解决

参考例句：

• Once untied, we common people are able to conquer nature, too. 只要团结起来，我们老百姓也能移山倒海。
• He untied the ropes. 他解开了绳子。

3 syndrome   

n.综合病症；并存特性

参考例句：

• The Institute says that an unidentified virus is to blame for the syndrome. 该研究所表示,引起这种综合症的是一种尚未确认的病毒。
• Results indicated that 11 fetuses had Down syndrome. 结果表明有11个胎儿患有唐氏综合征。

4 interferes   

vi. 妨碍，冲突，干涉

参考例句：

• The noise interferes with my work. 这噪音妨碍我的工作。
• That interferes with my plan. 那干扰了我的计划。

5 withdrawn   

vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出

参考例句：

• Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
• All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。

6 validates   

v.证实( validate的第三人称单数 )；确证；使生效；使有法律效力

参考例句：

• Other research validates that when it comes to chocolate, type does matter. 其他的研究也证实了不同种类的巧克力确实功效不同。 来自互联网
• Trouble shoots equipment, review and validates data and complete reports. 管理错误描述设备，审查并确认试验数据，完成试验报告。 来自互联网

7 allocated   

adj. 分配的 动词allocate的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The Ford Foundation allocated millions of dollars for cancer research. 福特基金会拨款数百万美元用于癌症研究。
• More funds will now be allocated to charitable organizations. 现在会拨更多的资金给慈善组织。

8 intervention   

n.介入，干涉，干预

参考例句：

• The government's intervention in this dispute will not help.政府对这场争论的干预不会起作用。
• Many people felt he would be hostile to the idea of foreign intervention.许多人觉得他会反对外来干预。