This appeared on CBS news’s website today.
An average of one in 110 children – roughly one percent of 8-year-olds – have autism, according to data collected in multiple communities nationwide from 2006.
Overall, the data indicates that one in 70 boys and one in 315 girls have an Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday.
The new research reveals an overall increase in autism from earlier studies. According to the newest data, all 10 communities participating in an earlier 2002 study observed autism prevalence shoot up by an average of 57 percent.
Arizona and Missouri saw the highest prevalence of autism while Florida had the lowest rate, according to the research.
The ASD prevalence was 4 to 5 times higher for boys than for girls.
The study used data based on a retrospective review of health and education records from communities compromising eight percent of the U.S. population of eight-year-olds. The studies focused on eight-years-old because previous research has shown that most children with autism have been identified by this age.
The studies’ authors noted that it was impossible to pinpoint one reason for the increase in autism.
“Although some of the increases are due to better detection, a true increase in risk cannot be ruled out,” the researchers noted.