Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that includes a variety of differences or challenges with social communication and interaction, restricted interests, repetitive behaviour, and sensory processing differences. A new report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 16 sites across the US has found that rates of ASD in children aged between four and eight years were higher in 2022 than in previous years. This study adds data to support the trend of an increasing prevalence of ASD across the US, but the study found the situation was more complex than simply rising prevalence rates.
This study found that in 2022, the observed prevalence of ASD was 32.2 per 1,000 children, meaning that approximately 1 in 31 children had ASD, a notably higher estimate than that of 2020 (26.1 per 1,000 children). The prevalence varied widely across sites in this study, with the highest prevalence observed in the California study site. Race and sex were also investigated, and a higher prevalence of ASD was seen in Asian/Pacific Islander (A/PI), Black, and Hispanic children than in White children. Additionally, the prevalence was higher, as observed in previous studies, in boys than in girls across all study sites.
The study also investigated why the prevalence of ASD in young children appears to have increased between 2020 and 2022. Since the last study period, the screening rate for ASD in young children has increased, in large part due to campaigns to
educate medical professionals who work with previously underserved communities. Increased screening, especially in low-income, A/PI, Black, and Hispanic communities, has resulted in improved case detection and higher prevalence rates.
In the US, GlobalData epidemiologists have noted an increase in diagnosed prevalent cases, with a forecasted increase from approximately 3,207,000 cases in 2025 to 3,267,000 cases in 2031. This increase is observed across all ethnic groups. Total prevalent cases of ASD, which include cases that are both diagnosed and currently not diagnosed, are expected to increase from approximately five million in 2025 to 5.1 million by 2031.
This study is released against a backdrop of concern for increasing ASD rates across the US. It is important to note that while the study only comments on changes between 2020 and 2022 in ASD prevalence, there is a longer trend of increasing
prevalence of ASD lasting nearly two decades. This is in part due to changes in the definition of ASD, which was formerly called “autism,” to include a broader variety of disorders under the umbrella term ASD. Changes in definition, combined with increased screening and awareness, contribute chiefly to the increase in prevalence of ASD in this age group. This supposition is further supported by studies investigating the subgroup of children who have high support needs, including 24-hour-a-day support and care, limited verbal communication, and intellectual disability co-occurring with autism. The rates of this subtype of ASD have increased only very slightly, if at all, over the last ten years. So, while ASD diagnosis and prevalence are on the rise, it is important to keep in mind that the primary use of this information must be meeting the needs of these children and ensuring that all children are given the support they need to reach their full potential.
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By GlobalData