Govt urged to create professional standards, attract top-quality talent

China is in dire need of more professionals to diagnose and train the growing number of autistic children, with research and treatment still far from sustainable, experts have warned.

"Autistic children who receive early treatment tend to relate better to others and assimilate well with society," said Lan Xiaosong, vice-president of Qingdao Shengzhi'ai Autistic Rehabilitation Center. "But due to a lack of professionals many children miss the best time for treatment," which is before 3 years old.

Wen Hong, secretary-general of the China Association of Persons With Psychiatric Disability and Their Relatives' autism committee, said the number of trained professionals available to help people with autism is significantly limited - nationally there are only 100 medics qualified to give an official diagnosis.