TEHRAN — There are five autism centers operational in Tehran province providing patients suffering the disorder with proper services, an official with Tehran province’s welfare organization said.

“Some five more centers are to be set up in the near future in Tehran,” Mohammadreza Asadi said, ISNA news agency reported.

Currently each center is offering treatment and support for some 280 patients, Asadi said, explaining, each center charges a monthly fee of some 5.68 million rials (nearly $140) which receives direct subsidies amount to 4 million rials (nearly $100).

“Currently some 20 patients are receiving home care in pilot program and in case we get satisfactory results and families welcome the program we will administer the program on a larger scale,” he added.

Some 809 patients are suffering autism in the province of Tehran, Asadi said, stating, the number is believed to be some 4,000 who are not diagnosed yet.

Autism is becoming one of the most prevailing childhood disorders which needs timely diagnosis, assessment, treatment and support, he suggested.

Autism is a mental condition, present from early childhood, characterized by great difficulty in communicating and forming relationships with other people and in using language and abstract concepts.

Earlier in December, it was announced that an offline autism screening test was available for downloading from Iran’s Welfare Organization website comprising of 10 questions for parents with children aged 2 to 5 to diagnose children who are suffering from the autism spectrum disorder.

MQ/MG