Autism spectrum disorder is up 15 percent, on average, among communities monitored by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to an agency report.
Approximately 1 in 59 8-year-olds were diagnosed with the disorder, a prevalence rate based on data collected in 2014 in 11 states. For the past two report cycles—2016 and 2014—1 in 68 8-year-olds were estimated to have the disorder, which is characterized by significant social, communication, and behavioral impairments.
The CDC says the numbers can’t be extrapolated to the nation as a whole because the monitoring sites are not nationally representative. The overall rate masks wide state-to-state variations. –
