The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is higher among Asian, Black, and Hispanic children compared to white children, who have historically had better opportunities to receive diagnostic services.
Rates of ASD in the United States have reached a record high, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, the high rate is likely due to improved diagnosis and screening rather than an increase in new cases, the study suggests.
According to data collected from 11 states by the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, one in 36 children were diagnosed with ASD in 2020, up from one in 44 in 2018. Wisconsin saw the largest relative change between 2018 and 2020, with an overall ASD prevalence increase of 49.5%.
For the first time in two decades of observation, the proportion of 8-year-old girls with ASD exceeded 1%, while for boys this figure remained around 4%.
The report, released March 24, also found for the first time that the prevalence of ASD has become higher among children of Black, Hispanic, Asian and Pacific Islander descent than among white children, who have historically had better opportunities for screening and diagnosis.
While the prevalence of ASD among white children increased by 14.6% from 2018 to 2020, it increased by more than 30% among Asian, Black, and Hispanic 8-year-olds. This significant increase in these groups is attributed to improved screening, awareness, and access to services since 2018, according to the report.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, ASD is a developmental disorder that affects the brain and impacts how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave.
To estimate the number of children with ASD, the ADDM network counted 8-year-old children who were diagnosed with ASD by a qualified professional, were assigned special educational status for autism in a public school, or had an administrative record of ASD using the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases.
The prevalence of ASD among children has increased significantly over the past 20 years. The ADDM Network notes that while only 6.7 children per 1,000 met the diagnostic criteria for ASD, that figure increased to 23 in 2018 and 27.6 in the current report.
Black children with ASD are more likely than their white peers to have co-occurring intellectual disabilities, such as those associated with genetic disorders or birth defects.
The report suggests that the current prevalence may be an underestimate. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have limited access to some services, which may have resulted in fewer reported cases of ASD.
“During the early months of the pandemic, 4-year-olds were less likely to be assessed or diagnosed for autism spectrum disorder than 8-year-olds of the same age. This coincides with disruptions in child care and health care services during the COVID-19 pandemic,” the CDC said in a statement.
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Sasha is a staff writer for Live Science based in the UK. She holds a BA in biology from the University of Southampton in England and an MA in science communication from Imperial College London. Her work has appeared in The Guardian and on health site Zoe. In addition to writing, she enjoys playing tennis, baking bread, and hunting for hidden treasures in thrift stores.
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