FOX 21 News, KQDS-DT

DULUTH - All around the world, people are raising awareness for a disorder most people don't see or understand: Autism.

A new study released suggests there are more children diagnosed than ever.

Beth Wilde has seen firsthand what Autism does for her 4-and-a-half- year-old daughter Jackie, but it's not what many believe when they think of Autism.

"The biggest misconception is that they're like rain man, that they have no feelings and that they don't hear what you say," Wilde said.

Jackie does everything any other kid her age does, from playing with toys to playing soccer with friends, but public places like the grocery store can become troublesome.

“They can hear the humming of the lights, the smell of all the different foods, the sounds, everything and that can lead to what looks to be a temper tantrum but is actually a meltdown for kids on the spectrum," Wilde said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates one in 88 children have Autism, a 23 percent increase from its 2009 report.

"Something's got to be going on and it's not that we were misdiagnosing that many children 20 years ago," Carol Roberts, Director of the Scottish Rite Clinic in Duluth said.

The Scottish Rite Clinic specializes in Autism, helping families like the Wildes.

They say the numbers are troubling, but without much financial support it's hard to find out why this is happening.

"Funding is very hard to find. A lot of times funders will fund us for a small period of time but as you know Autism is a lifetime disability," Roberts said.

Meanwhile, the Wildes continue taking each day in stride, hoping the world becomes more aware of an increasingly common illness.

"It's days like these that let people know that there are children out there that have genuine issues," Wilde said.

Autism is a financial burden for families.

According to research by Autism Speaks, the lifetime costs for a family with someone severely affected can be as much as $2.3 million.