A major report states that autism effects one in 100 adults.

The problem of autism and conditions like the Asperger’s syndrome effects more number of people than estimated earlier and is more widespread.

Males are more affected by autism than females in children, the study has found.

In women this condition is found in one out of 300 but in men it is one in 50.

The report was made by the NHS Information Centre and stated that autism was there in about a third of adults with learning difficulties.

Autism was mostly associated with kids but adults were not thought of being autistic very often.

Questions that could identify autism were put to more than 7,400 men and women.

A further test was given to people who suggested signs of autism and more than 300 adults were interviewed by experts who had learning difficulties.

Some form of autism was seen in 1.1 per cent of all adults.

Mark Lever, chief executive of The National Autistic Society, said, “There has long been a tendency to view autism as solely a condition affecting children but this is the first study to find that the prevalence of autism is roughly the same for adults as it is for children.”