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Autism rates in the United States have increased, with one in 31 school-age children now diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by their eighth birthday, according to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released Tuesday (April 15). This marks a significant rise from previous estimates, which showed one in 54 children diagnosed in 2016 and one in 150 in 2000.
The increase is largely attributed to improved detection methods and heightened awareness of the disorder. Zachary Warren, executive director of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center’s Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders, emphasized that doctors are now more adept at identifying autism.
"Without a doubt, we’ve become exceptionally efficient in this surveillance work," Warren stated in the report published by NBC News.
The CDC's Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network conducted the study across 16 sites in 14 states, including Arizona, California, and Texas, as well as Puerto Rico. The report revealed that boys are three times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with autism. Additionally, diagnoses were more common among Black and Hispanic children compared to white children, likely due to increased awareness and improved diagnostic criteria.
The report also highlighted disparities in autism prevalence and severity among different racial and ethnic groups. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, Black, Asian, and Hispanic children are more likely to have severe forms of autism compared to white children.
The CDC's findings come as efforts to understand the root causes of autism continue. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plans to assemble teams of scientists to research the origins of autism, with the aim of finding answers by September.