New autism data released Thursday shows more and more American children are being diagnosed with autism at younger and younger ages.
Analyzing data collected in 2018 in a dozen states, researchers from the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control found that one in 44 children aged 8 had been diagnosed with autism, compared to 1 in 54. in 2016.
Autism has been on the rise in the United States for several years, but experts believe this reflects better knowledge of the problem and greater availability of services to treat it than an actual increase in the number of children affected.
A different report released by the CDC on Thursday shows that children were 50% more likely to have been diagnosed with autism by the age of four in 2018 than in 2014.
“Some progress is being made and the earlier children are identified, the earlier they will have access to the services they may need to improve their development,” said co-author Kelly Shaw.
Geraldine Dawson, who heads the Center for Autism and Brain Development at Duke University, says the new estimate comes close to that seen when examining a large population of children, not just children diagnosed. As such, she says, it may more closely reflect the true prevalence of autism among American children than previous calculations.
The CDC reports draw on data provided by counties and communities in 11 states – some of which include urban neighborhoods, where rates of autism tend to be higher. These rates are estimates and do not necessarily reflect the entire situation in the United States, the authors warned.
Autism rates fluctuate widely – from one in 26 children in California, where services are plentiful, to 1 in 60 in Missouri.
Generally, the prevalence of autism was the same for all ethnic groups. The rates, however, were higher among black children in Maryland and Minnesota. Until recently, US data showed a higher prevalence among white children.