Student Well-Being News in Brief

In U.S., 1 in 88 Children Identified as Autistic

By Nirvi Shah — April 03, 2012 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

New estimates show that one in 88 American children has been identified as having autism spectrum disorder, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said last week.

The estimates, based on 2008 data from 14 communities, range from one in 210 Alabama children with the disorder to one in 47 children in Utah. And autism spectrum disorders are about five times more common in boys than girls: One in 54 boys was identified as having ASD. Previous CDC estimates found that about one in 80 boys and one in 240 girls had a form of autism. Other studies have found that autism is more common than the new CDC estimates indicate.

Study results from the 2008 surveillance year show 11.3 per 1,000 8-year-olds have ASD. That is a 23 percent increase since the last report in 2009, the CDC said. Some of the increase is because of the way children are identified, diagnosed, and served in their communities, although exactly how much is due to those factors is unknown.

The study also found that more children are being diagnosed by age 3, an increase from 12 percent for those born in 1994 and 18 percent for children born in 2000.

Related Tags:

A version of this article appeared in the April 04, 2012 edition of Education Week as In U.S., 1 in 88 Children Identified as Autistic

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Professional Development Webinar
Inside PLCs: Proven Strategies from K-12 Leaders
Join an expert panel to explore strategies for building collaborative PLCs, overcoming common challenges, and using data effectively.
Content provided by Otus
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Science Webinar
Making Science Stick: The Engaging Power of Hands-On Learning
How can you make science class the highlight of your students’ day while
achieving learning outcomes? Find out in this session.
Content provided by LEGO Education
Teaching Profession Key Insights to Elevate and Inspire Today’s Teachers
Join this free half day virtual event to energize your teaching and cultivate a positive learning experience for students.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Student Well-Being Q&A This School Counselor Has a Four-Legged Trick for Getting Tweens to Open Up
The 2025 School Counselor of the Year supports hundreds of middle schoolers with help from her therapy dog, Winston.
5 min read
Carmen Larson, 2025 School Counselor of the Year.
Carmen Larson, 2025 School Counselor of the Year.
Courtesy of the American School Counselor Association
Student Well-Being Opinion Generation Alpha Is Defined by Tragedy
Rising teens have direct digital access to unending pain, violence, and loss, writes Bettina L. Love.
3 min read
Digital art painting of girl looking at a glowing screen, acrylic on canvas texture, storytelling illustration
iStock/Getty Images + Education Week
Student Well-Being From Our Research Center Are Students Vaping More? Educators Think So
Teachers, principals, and district leaders are reporting an increase despite previous federal data showing teen vaping is declining.
3 min read
Student Well-Being Boys Want a Strong Relationship With Their Teachers. That Doesn't Always Happen
The key to inspiring boys in the classroom is a strong student-teacher relationship, experts say. Here's how to make it work.
7 min read
Jon Becker, upper school history and English teacher, has 9th grader Demetrios Karavedas stand on a chair and apologize for forgetting his book during their 9th grade English class at Boys’ Latin School of Maryland on Oct. 24, 2024 in Baltimore, Md.
Jon Becker, a history and English teacher at Boys' Latin School of Maryland in Baltimore, has 9th grader Demetrios Karavedas stand on a chair and apologize for forgetting his book on Oct. 24, 2024. Positive relationships with teachers matter for boys' academic motivation and success.
Jaclyn Borowski/Education Week