CDC estimates 1 in 68 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in 68 children (or 14.7 per 1,000 eight-year-olds) in multiple communities in the United States has been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).  This new estimate is roughly 30 percent higher than previous estimates reported in 2012 of 1 in 88 children (11.3 per 1,000 eight year olds) being identified with an autism spectrum disorder.    The number of children identified with ASD ranged from 1 in 175 children in Alabama to 1 in 45 children in New Jersey.

The surveillance summary report, “Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder among Children Aged 8 Years – Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 Sites, United States, 2010,” was published today in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.  Researchers reviewed records from community sources that educate, diagnose, treat and/or provide services to children with developmental disabilities. The criteria used to diagnose ASDs and the methods used to collect data have not changed.

The data continue to show that ASD is almost five times more common among boys than girls:  1 in 42 boys versus 1 in 189 girls. White children are more likely to be identified as having ASD than are black or Hispanic children.

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If you suspect that your child may have ASD:

• Talk to your child’s doctor about your concerns.
• At the same time, call your local early intervention program or school system for a free evaluation.
• It’s never too late to get help for your child.

For additional information on:

• Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network and this report, visitwww.cdc.gov/autism.
• CDC’s autism research, visit www.cdc.gov/SEED  
• Community Report from the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network.
• Developmental milestone checklists and other resources to help families track their child’s development, visit www.cdc.gov/milestones.
• What to do if you are concerned about your child’s development, visit www.cdc.gov/Concerned.
• State’s early intervention contact information, visitwww.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/parents/states.html.
• Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive, is part of a coordinated federal effort to encourage developmental and behavioral screening and support for children, families, and the providers who care for them. Watch for updates at www.hhs.gov/watchmethrive (expected to be announced later today). 

1 in 88 children diagnosed with ASD

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ABC | Autism Diagnosis: 1 in 88 Children Watch Video

By LAWRENCE BORGES, M.D., ABC News Medical Unit

One in 88 children is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, by age 8, according to a study released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- a rate that has risen far above the 2006 estimate of 1 in 110.

But experts remain locked in debate about whether these numbers tell the whole story.

The CDC report, which analyzed data from 2008, indicates a 23 percent rise in diagnoses of ASDs over a two-year period.

The news could be most alarming for boys. The study reports that on average 1 in 54 boys was diagnosed with autism, compared to only 1 in 252 girls.

But what this rise actually means is still a mystery. Some doctors contacted by ABC News believe a broader definition of autism has contributed to rising rates.