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In the U.S., autism diagnosis is increasing, with new federal data showing 31 eight-year-olds suffering from autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in 2022, the highest rate ever seen in the country.
A report released Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that autism diagnosis has climbed the U.S. over the past few decades. It also highlights a major shift: Black, Hispanic and Asian children are now more likely to be diagnosed with autism than white children.
As early as 2000, about 150 children of eight-year-olds were diagnosed with autism in the United States, according to CDC data. By 2016, this number had jumped to one of 54. Then, in 2020, it rose to one of 36 again.
Now, it climbs higher.
The CDC says this rise, especially among younger children and groups that have been identified previously, highlighting the importance of continuously improving access to diagnostic, treatment and support services for all children with autism.
“As the oldest grassroots autism organization in the United States, the Autism Association of America remains committed to ensuring that epidemic data drives fairness and access, rather than fear, misinformation or political speech,” Christopher Banks, president and CEO of the American Autism Society, said in a statement on Tuesday.
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“The rise in prevalence … may reflect several factors, including higher awareness, improved screening and diagnosis, especially in communities that have previously been supported by advocacy efforts to better support the autistic community,” the statement added.
Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder that affects brain development, which can lead to communication problems, difficulties in social interactions, and tendency to repeat specific behavioral patterns.
It can come in many different ways – some children may face mild challenges while others need more support. Autism is often described as spectrum due to various symptoms and severity.
While both genetic and environmental factors can play a role, the exact cause of autism remains unknown.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network tracks data from 16 locations in the U.S. and found that in 2022, about 31 eight-year-old children (or 32.2 children per 1,000 children) have autism spectrum disorder.
The prevalence varies widely in many regions, with Texas having the lowest prevalence at 9.7 per 1,000, while California has the highest prevalence at 53.1. Among the 11 sites reporting data for 2020 and 2022, the autism rate increased, up 22.2% overall.
The boy has been diagnosed with autism, much higher than the girl. The 2022 report found that an eight-year-old boy was likely to be diagnosed with autism as a girl of the same age.
The report also highlights the differences between race and race. Asian or Pacific Islanders had higher autism rates than white children (38.2 per 1,000), American Indian or Alaska (37.5), Black (36.6) and Hispanic (33.0) children, while white children had a rate of 27.7.
The report also shows that early identification is getting better and better.
Children born in 2018 are 1.7 times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than children born in 2014. This shows that awareness is growing and more and more children can access the diagnostic services they need.
“This rise in prevalence does not mean an ‘epidemic’ because the narrative claims progress in diagnosis and urgently requires policy decisions about the urgent needs of science and autism communities,” said the American autistic society.
It added: “Early screening is crucial because early intervention is closely related to improved development, behavioral and educational outcomes.”
& Copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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