AUTISM PREVALENCE IN U.S. GREATER THAN PREVIOUS ESTIMATES
AUTISM PREVALENCE IN U.S. GREATER THAN PREVIOUS ESTIMATES
Reuters Health Information 2007. © 2007 Reuters Ltd.
By Maggie Fox
WASHINGTON (Reuters) Feb 08 - The prevalence of autism spectrum disorders in the U.S. is higher than previous estimates, affecting about 1 in 150 children, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday.
Two surveys by the agency encompass 22 states and represent the largest and most comprehensive studies of autism prevalence. The results show a wide variation among the states, ranging from 4.5 per 1000 children with an autism-related disorder in West Virginia, to 9.9 per 1000 in New Jersey. "There's been a lot of concern about what the prevalence of autism in the U.S. and we haven't really had the data systems to answer that completely," said Catherine Rice of the CDC's birth-defects division, who helped conduct the study.
First-time estimates for 8-year old children in eight states and second-time estimates in 14 states were conducted. On average, the CDC researchers found that about 1 in 150 children born between 1992 and 1994, or 6.7 in 1000, have an autistic disorder. Previous estimates were between 1 in 166 and 1 in 175.
"Finally, we can end the debate on the prevalence of autism in our nation and focus on getting the services and supports the families need," said Lee Grossman, Chief Executive Officer of the Autism Society of America. The reports are the first from the government-funded Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network.
"We really do think that these data are important because they represent the most complete and accurate picture of autism spectrum disorders in the United States to date," Rice said in a telephone interview.
"We hope these findings will build awareness," Rice said. The CDC surveys, published in the February 9 issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, used a variety of sources such as schools, physician reports and other data. Rice said it took years to get the required approvals to see the data.
The autism rates remained fairly stable during the 2 years in which the surveys were taken, Rice said, except in West Virginia, where the rates increased sharply. Rice said it is unclear why. The studies also showed far fewer of the autistic children had mental retardation than in previous estimates.
"The older statistics always estimated 70% to 75% of kids with autism had cognitive impairment," Rice said. "We found 33% to 62%."