New Study Reports the Autism Rate at 1% of US Children
10/5/2009
October 5, 2009, a recent study published in the journal Pediatrics reports the rate of autism at 1 in 91 (1%) American children ages 3 – 17. This is a staggering increase from the 1 in 150 prevalence rate reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2007. The study also reported the rate among boys to be 1 in 58, which supports previous findings that boys are four time more likely than girls to have autism. The study used data from the 2007 National Survey for Children's Health conducted by the Health Resources and Services Administration.
Pathfinders for Autism is deeply concerned by the implications the increasing numbers of children diagnosed with ASD will have on already over burdened school systems and adult service providers throughout the state. Adequate resources are desperately needed to support intervention, treatment and lifespan services so that the thousands of individual living with autism may live happy, fulfilling, productive lives.