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If you have a child with autism or know someone who does, you probably have been paying close attention to recent reports which show that autism rates have grown significantly in the past few years. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), autism rates have grown by 23% since their last report in 2009 and there has been a 78% increase since their first report in 2007.  These are high numbers and it is an important public health concern that needs attention.

The CDC has provided valuable information that helps us to see what the progress is on the search for the causes and the risk factors of ASDs. Also, the CDC continues to develop resources to help identify children at an early age that have ASDs. Below are some highlights from the CDC’s latest report on ASDs:

CDC estimates 1 in 88 children (11.3 per 1,000) has been identified with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

• This marks a 23% increase since our last report in 2009. And, a 78% increase since our first report in 2007. Some of the increase is due to the way children are identified, diagnosed and served in their local communities, although exactly how much is due to these factors in unknown.
• The number of children identified with ASDs varied widely across the 14 ADDM Network sites, from 1 in 47 (21.2 per 1,000) to 1 in 210 (4.8 per 1,000).
• ASDs are almost 5 times more common among boys (1 in 54) than among girls (1 in 252).
• The largest increases over time were among Hispanic children (110%) and black children (91%). We suspect that some of this increase is due to greater awareness and better identification among these groups. However, this finding explains only part of the increase over time, as more children are being identified in all groups.
• There were increases over time among children without intellectual disability (those having IQ scores above 70), although there were also increases in the estimated prevalence of ASDs at all levels of intellectual ability.
• More children are being diagnosed at earlier ages—a growing number of them by age 3. Still, most children are not diagnosed until after they reach age 4, even though early identification and intervention can help a child access services and learn new skills. This is why CDC’s Learn the Signs. Act Early. program is essential. Through this program, CDC provides free tools to help parents track their child’s development and free resources for doctors and educators. CDC is also working with states and communities to improve early identification.
• CDC also provided leadership in establishing Healthy People 2020 objectives and supporting the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that all children be screened by age 2, because early screening and diagnosis improve access to services during a child’s most critical developmental period.

To learn more about autism and to find resources to help understanding the risk factors and causes as well as to learn about the Study to Explore Early Development (SEED), click here to visit the Center for Disease Control’s website.

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