There are 120,000 autism cases in the Kingdom and efforts are on to establish a research center, Director General of Health Affairs in the Eastern Province, Khalid Al-Shaibani, has said.

In the research paper, presented by him on the occasion of International Autism Day, Al-Sheibani said the EP has 16.6 percent with 20,000 cases.

He said the health affairs in the EP have prepared special mechanisms to discover autism in children aged between one year and three years to follow them up and subject them to specialized international treatment programs. Studies have proved that early discovery doubles chances of recovery, he said.

Al-Shaibani said that coordination is under way with the King Fahad Specialty hospital to establish a research center for advanced cases. “The EP health department coordinates periodically with the Ministry of Labor to provide job opportunities for improved cases. An early diagnosis program for autism is being prepared for 2016.”

President of the national program for treating people with delayed growth, Dr. Saleh Al-Salihi, said many people who have autism received comprehensive welfare.

Catherine Walsh from New England Center said many researches confirm that rehabilitation programs during an early age helped many people. Around 47 percent of patients who received early intervention have recovered and got positive results, she added.