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Autism

Autism Prevalence in the United States Rises to One in 31 Children, According to CDC Report

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A recent study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that the estimated prevalence of autism in children aged eight has risen to one in 31 in 2022, compared to one child in 36 in 2020 and one child in 150 twenty years ago. The study attributes the increased rates to improved diagnosis methods. The CDC report highlights geographical, gender, and ethnic disparities in autism prevalence, with African-American, Asian, and Latino children more likely to be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder than white children.

Key Takeaways:

  • The estimated prevalence of autism in children aged eight rose to one in 31 in 2022, compared to one child in 36 in 2020, according to the CDC report.
  • The study attributes the increased rates to improved diagnosis methods, suggesting that more children are being correctly identified with autism.
  • Children of African-American, Asian, and Latino descent were more likely to be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder than white children, highlighting geographical, gender, and ethnic disparities in autism prevalence.
  • The study pointed to regional variations in pediatrician training and access to facilities capable of diagnosing the disorder, potentially contributing to the disparities.
  • The CDC report emphasized that there is no single known cause for autism, a complex condition related to the brain's development.
  • Research suggests that genetic and environmental factors are likely contributors to autism, and the World Health Organization has stated that there are many factors that make children more likely to have autism.
  • The increasing rates of autism have been linked to vaccines by some, including US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., but scientific studies have debunked this link.

Statistics:

  • One in 31 children aged eight in 2022 had autism, according to the CDC report.
  • The prevalence of autism in eight-year-old children rose to one in 31 in 2022 compared to one child in 36 in 2020.
  • The estimated prevalence of autism in children twenty years ago was one in 150.
  • Children of African-American, Asian, and Latino descent were 1.5-2 times more likely to be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder than white children.

Sources:

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • World Health Organization

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