More kids diagnosed with autism

Special needs: Nur Farhana Mohamad (left) and her son, Muhammad Ammar at the Genius Kurnia early-intervention centre in Sentul.

PETALING JAYA: More Malaysian children are being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) each year, sparking a demand for places in autism-focused pre-schools or early intervention centres.

“By analysing the national gross birth rate per year, we are looking at around 8,000 to 9,000 born yearly that may have autism in Malaysia,” said National Autism Society of Malaysia (Nasom) chairman Feilina S.Y. Muhammad Feisol.