(India) Patna: "Growing emergency-surge in children identified with autism spectrum disorder"
- The end of childhood
- Dec 8
- 1 min read
Nov 27, 2025, Times of India: Families struggle for support as Patna faces autism care crisis
Patna: Patna is facing a growing emergency – a surge in children being identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) even as the city struggles with a crippling shortage of therapy centres, special schools and trained professionals. With experts estimating that more than 30% of children may be on the spectrum, families are being pushed into an exhausting battle for support that simply does not exist at the scale required.
Dr Shachi, a specialist working in autism intervention, said the rise is not necessarily a sharp increase in cases but a positive jump in identification due to improved awareness, systematic screenings and parents becoming more open to accepting the diagnosis.
She added that children are typically diagnosed between the ages of 3 and 5 years even though early signs can be spotted much earlier, around 18 to 24 months.
“The delay is mainly caused by a lack of awareness of early signs, parents taking time to accept the diagnosis, and often being told to just ‘wait and watch’. Registered cases have climbed steadily, particularly after the Covid-19 pandemic, when developmental delays and behavioural red flags became more visible at home,” she added.
However, the crisis deepens when families attempt to seek help. Dr Shachi said, “There are very few special schools and therapy centres – less than 10 are considered truly professional and structured.” Comprehensive therapy is costly, often ranging from Rs 12,000 to over Rs 30,000 per month, far beyond the reach of many middle-class families already struggling with the emotional toll of caring for neurodivergent children.
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