Figure 8. Growth in ASD Research Publications by Critical Question Area within the IACC Strategic Plan, 1981 to 2010. 

Line graph.  There are seven lines on the graph, corresponding to the seven critical question areas of the IACC strategic plan. The y-axis is labeled average publication count per 5 year interval. The x-axis displays years in 6 intervals starting with 1981 to 1985, 1986 to 1990, 1991 to 1995, 1996 to 2000, 2001 to 2005, and lastly 2006 to 2010.  Between the years 1981 to 1985, the average annual number of publications for all critical question categories was less than 50, and the number increased during each time interval thereafter for all categories. The largest end values are in the category of Biology, with an average annual number of 590 publications between the years 2006 to 2010. The next largest end values are in the Treatments and Interventions category, with an average annual number of 311 publications between the years 2006 to 2010. Next is the Risk Factors category, with an average annual number of 301 publications between the years 2006 to 2010. The fourth  largest end values are in the Diagnosis category, with an average annual number of 182 publications between the years 2006 to 2010. Next is the Services category, with an average annual number of 142 publications between the years 2006 to 2010. Sixth is the Lifespan Issues category, with an average annual number of 66 publications between the years 2006 to 2010. The seventh and last category is Infrastructure and Surveillance, which had an average annual number of 35 publications between the years 2006 to 2010.