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CDC says autism rates soaring in US

child and doctorWASHINGTON – A report released this week from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) suggests that roughly 1 in every 68 children in the US is now afflicted with some degree of autism.  That is a 30% increase from figures released just two years ago.

In the report, records were examined in eleven states of 8-year-old children. New Jersey showed the highest prevalence of the Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with 1 in 45, while Alabama had the lowest, with 1 in 175.  Iowa children were not included in the study.

Overall ASD prevalence estimates varied among the eleven sites from 5.7 to 21.9 per 1,000 children aged 8 years. ASD prevalence estimates also varied by sex and racial/ethnic group. Approximately one in 42 boys and one in 189 girls living in the ADDM Network communities were identified as having ASD. Non-Hispanic white children were approximately 30% more likely to be identified with ASD than non-Hispanic black children and were almost 50% more likely to be identified with ASD than Hispanic children.

It was suggested that better identification and reporting of the disorder has contributed to the higher numbers.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong developmental disability defined by diagnostic criteria that include deficits in social communication and social interaction and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. Initial signs and symptoms typically are apparent in the early developmental period; however, social deficits and behavioral patterns might not be recognized as symptoms of ASD until a child is unable to meet social, educational, occupational, or other important life stage demands. Functional limitations vary among persons with ASD and might develop over time.

The global prevalence of autism has increased twentyfold to thirtyfold since the earliest epidemiologic studies were conducted in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

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