Estimated 1 in 31 children have autism as diagnosis rates increase in the US: CDC
Autism diagnoses are continuing to increase in the United States, according to a new report published Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
An estimated one in 31 8-year-olds was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in 2022, according to the report. To compare, one in 36 were diagnosed with ASD in 2020, the report found.
This is also a rise from the one in 150 children diagnosed with autism in 2000, CDC data shows.
MORE: Brittany Cartwright reveals 3-year-old son Cruz has nonverbal autism
Medical experts have previously told ABC News this increase is largely due to better awareness, better access to screening and services, and diagnosis of the wide range of autism spectrum disorder.
There is a wider recognition and a better understanding of what is now understood as autism/ASD, and the definition of what classifies as autism has broadened, according to experts.
For example, in 2013, doctors decided to fold Asperger's disease and other similar diagnoses into the autism classification.
The CDC report found ASD was 3.4 times more prevalent among boys at 49.2 children per 1,000 compared to 14.3 children per 1,000.
ASD is a spectrum, which means symptoms vary by person: some need little support in their daily lives, and some may need a great deal of support in performing day-to-day activities. Some may have advanced conversation skills and others may be nonverbal.
The report does not mean one in 31 children is living with the most severe cases of the disorder. Among children with ASD, fewer than 40% of children were classified as having an intellectual disability.
Additionally, the report showed racial/ethnic disparities persist. Prevalence was lower among white children compared to other groups.
ASD rates stood at 27.7 per 1,000 for white children compared to 38.2 per 1,000 for Asian or Pacific Islander children, 37.5 for American Indian/Alaska Native children, 36.6 for Black or African American children, 33.0 for Hispanic children and 31.9 for multiracial children.
MORE: As RFK Jr. prepares for Senate confirmation hearings, here's where he stands on vaccines, food dyes
The report did have limitations; the data came from 16 research universities and institutions across 14 states and Puerto Rico, which may not be nationally representative.
In a statement, advocacy group Autism Speaks said the report showing increasing rates "reflects, in part, real progress: increased awareness, broader diagnostic criteria, and more consistent, standardized screening tools have all contributed to more children being identified earlier and more accurately -- underscored the need for continued support and investment in the autism community."
The report comes amid a focus on autism from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
During a cabinet meeting at the White House last week, Kennedy said his agency will "know what has caused the autism epidemic" by September and "eliminate those exposures."
Some psychiatrists and autism experts have told ABC News it's important to highlight the rising rates of autism and that at least Kennedy is putting a spotlight on it.
The experts, however, said Kennedy and others are missing important context about why autism rates are increasing. In addition to the broadening of the definition of ASD, they say reasons for rising rates may include people having children at older ages, better awareness and access to diagnostic testing.
Estimated 1 in 31 children have autism as diagnosis rates increase in the US: CDC originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
FDA Reveals Which Kinds of Eggs May Be Contaminated with Salmonella
In a June news release, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration revealed that "brown cage-free and brown certified organic eggs" from the August Egg Company have "the potential" to be contaminated with salmonella. The outlet added that the eggs were "sold under multiple different brand names at restaurants and retailers" and should "no longer be available for sale." Those brands are Clover, First Street, Nuaid, O Organics, Marketside, Raleys, Simple Truth, Sun Harvest, and Sunnyside. According to People, over 1.7 million eggs have been recalled in nine states: California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska, Indiana, and Illinois. On June 6, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed they were investigating the "multi-state outbreak of salmonella infections." Mayo Clinic states that while some people with salmonella may have no symptoms, most experience a range of symptoms, like abdominal cramps, within 8 to 72 hours. "In some cases, diarrhea can cause severe dehydration and requires prompt medical attention. Life-threatening complications also may develop if the infection spreads beyond the intestines. The risk of getting salmonella infection is higher with travel to countries without clean drinking water and proper sewage disposal." At this time, 21 people have been hospitalized due to infection, according to the FDA. In a statement, the August Egg Company shared, "We believe it is appropriate out of an abundance of caution to conduct this voluntary recall, as consumers may still have these eggs in their homes. It is important to know that when our processing plant identified this concern, we immediately began diverting all eggs from the plant to an egg-breaking facility, which pasteurizes the eggs and kills any pathogens." The company concluded, "We are committed to addressing this matter fully and to implementing all necessary corrective actions to ensure this does not happen again."FDA Reveals Which Kinds of Eggs May Be Contaminated with Salmonella first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 7, 2025
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
CDC links salmonella outbreak to 1.7 million eggs recalled across 9 states
The Brief A salmonella outbreak has sickened at least 79 people in seven states. The CDC linked the outbreak to eggs recalled by the August Egg Company. Over 1.7 million eggs were distributed to stores in nine states from February to May. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said a salmonella outbreak has been linked to a large egg recall that has made dozens of people sick in seven states in the West and Midwest. Dig deeper The August Egg Company recalled about 1.7 million brown organic and brown cage-free egg varieties distributed to grocery stores between February and May because of the potential for salmonella, according to a posted announcement Friday on the Food and Drug Administration's website. Why you should care At least 79 people in seven states have gotten a strain of salmonella that was linked to the eggs, and 21 people have been hospitalized. the CDC said. Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include diarrhea, fever, severe vomiting, dehydration and stomach cramps. Most people who get sick recover within a week. Infections can be severe in young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems, who may require hospitalization. The CDC advises people to throw away recalled eggs or return them to the store where they were purchased. Consumers should also wash and disinfect any surfaces that came in contact with the eggs. Big picture view The recall covers Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Washington and Wyoming. A list of brands and plant codes or Julian dates can be found on the FDA and CDC websites. The Source The Associated Press contributed to this report. The information in this story comes from an announcement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and a recall notice posted on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website. This story was reported from Los Angeles.
Fox News
5 hours ago
- Fox News
Extra: Progress And New Found Hope In The Fight Against Fentanyl
There are signs that America may be turning the tide on the fentanyl crisis. Across the country, the numbers show that overdose deaths from the powerful opioid and other drugs are dropping significantly. Recent analysis of U.S. data by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill indicates that deaths began declining in late 2023, when they reached a peak of 114,000. Now, the CDC suggests they're below 87,000. This comes at a time when fentanyl seizures at the U.S.-South border are decreasing–something the White House says is a sign that their border policies and efforts to curb the flow of illegal drugs are working. Earlier this week, Dr. Nabarun Dasgupta, a scientist and researcher at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, joined host Gurnal Scott to discuss the trend and why his research suggests fentanyl deaths are on the decline. Dr. Dasgupta explained how multiple factors, including awareness, the use of Narcan, increased border security, and even politics, have all contributed to the improvement. However, he also warned that America is not yet out of the woods. We made some edits for time, and thought you might like to hear the whole conversation. Today on Fox News Rundown Extra, we will share our entire interview with Dr. Nabarun Dasgupta and allow you to hear more of his take on the state of the fentanyl crisis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
