How Common is Autism?

The number of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been increasing in recent years. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about one in 36 children have autism in the U.S., which is a big increase over the previous estimated rate of one in 44 children.

While the prevalence of autism is definitely on the rise in the U.S., it’s important to note that ASD is still relatively rare. The rate of one in 36 children, after all, means that only about 2.78% of children are diagnosed with ASD.

These statistics don’t tell the whole picture, though.

Below, we’ll dive deeper into some of the statistics about autism, both in the United States and across the world, explore some of the reasons why the prevalence might be on the rise and discuss treatment options for children who do have autism.

Table Of Contents

How Common is Autism?

The 2.78% prevalence rate of autism among children in the U.S. only tells a part of the story.

In America, autism is much more prevalent in boys than it is in girls, with boys being diagnosed at a rate that’s nearly four times higher than girls. About four in 100 boys have autism in the U.S., compared to one in 100 girls.

White children are diagnosed with autism at a lower rate than other ethnic and racial groups in the country. The autism prevalence rate for white children is 2.4%, compared to 2.9% for black children, 3.2% for Hispanic children, and 3.3% for Asian or Pacific Islander children¹.

Compared to the rest of the world, the ASD rate is higher in the U.S. as well. About one in 100 children across the globe are diagnosed with ASD².

While ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that children are born with, the average age of diagnosis in the U.S. is 5 years old. A major reason for that is that the common signs and symptoms are more difficult to spot before that time.

Why is the Autism Prevalence Rate Increasing?

On the surface, the fact that the incidents of autism diagnoses are increasing rapidly is quite concerning. However, there are many theories as to why it’s on the rise — and not all of them are actually worrisome.

Many experts believe that a big contributing factor to the rising prevalence rate is that simply that advanced medical research has helped trained professionals more accurately diagnose autism.

Screening tools such as the M-CHAT and others help pediatricians identify some of the early signs of autism, for instance, which leads to more children being evaluated for autism, which leads to more children being diagnosed with autism.

Awareness of autism has also increased in recent years, which has led to people being more knowledgeable about some of these early signs of autism.

This theory essentially suggests that the number of children in the U.S. who have autism isn’t actually increasing; Instead, fewer children are being misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all due to better diagnostic tools and more awareness.

How is Autism Treated?

Early detection and diagnosis of autism is important because studies have shown that the earlier interventions begin, the more successful they are. That’s why there’s such an emphasis on identifying the early signs of autism, so that proper evaluations can be conducted for an official diagnosis.

The leading treatment option for children who are diagnosed with ASD is called applied behavior analysis, or ABA therapy. It is a science-based approach to learning and behavior that helps address some of the biggest challenges that children on the autism spectrum face.

ABA therapists first create personalized treatment plans for each one of their patients, based on the child’s unique strengths and challenges. Then, using a variety of tools and strategies at their disposal, they help their patients grow by targeting certain behaviors or skills.

Over time, ABA therapy has been proven to help children with autism build social and communication skills, while also modifying certain behaviors that might be negative and/or harmful.

In this way, ABA therapy helps children on the autism spectrum achieve specific goals such as attending regular education classrooms, acquiring job-related skills and living more independently.

Blue Gems ABA Supports Children with ASD

Autism prevalence rates have been increasing rapidly in recent years, but many experts believe this is due to an increase in awareness and understanding about the early signs of autism, as well as improved and more accurate diagnostics.

At Blue Gems ABA, we have a team of clinical psychologists who evaluate children for autism and diagnose them with ASD if appropriate. We also have a team of experienced BCBAs who provide ongoing support to these children by administering ABA therapy.

To learn more, please contact us today.

References

1. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/addm-community-report/spotlight-on-racial-ethnic-differences.html
2. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/autism-spectrum-disorders#:~:text=About%201%20in%20100%20children,and%20can%20evolve%20over%20time.