Autism Rates in the U.S. See Alarming Rise: Experts Point to Awareness and Diagnostic Shifts
Federal data shows 1 in 31 children now diagnosed with autism—researchers stress that complex causes extend beyond statistics.
Watan-Researchers have stated that new federal data from the United States shows a concerning rise in autism prevalence, but they also emphasized that the causes and symptoms are far more complex than mere numbers.
Data published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on its website on April 14 shows that autism prevalence across the country has increased from one in every 36 children to one in every 31. So how did experts interpret this increase, according to Newsweek magazine?
Improved Awareness and Diagnostic Methods
Jürgen Hahn, a member of the scientific advisory board at the Autism Research Institute in the U.S. and a professor and chair of Biomedical Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, noted that the new data is unsurprising and reflects ongoing trends over several years.
When asked about the reason behind the rise, he said, “We know the numbers are going up, but we don’t know exactly why. For instance, one study found that pregnancy complications increase a child’s risk of autism, but not enough to explain the overall rise.”
Roma Vasa, Director of Psychiatric Services at the Center for Autism Services, Science, and Innovation at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, emphasized the importance of prevalence reports, noting they help researchers understand diagnostic trends.
“This increasing rate is driven by several factors,” she said, “including improved awareness of autism among doctors, parents, teachers, and other professionals, better access to screening and evaluation, and broader diagnostic criteria.”
Rising Autism Cases and the Importance of Early Diagnosis
Autism spectrum disorder begins at birth, appears in the first three years of life, and lasts a lifetime. It is classified as a complex neurodevelopmental disorder.
Unknown Contributing Factors
Nigel Newbutt, Assistant Professor of Advanced Learning Technologies at the University of Florida, agreed with the above, stating that society now understands much more than it did in the past.
He added that while there are other contributing factors, relevant stakeholders—including general physicians, educational institutions, and parents—are better equipped to detect early signs of autism, aiding in earlier diagnoses.
However, neuroscientist and brain development expert Robert Melillo argued that increased awareness alone does not fully explain the sharp rise in autism rates.
“In the best-case scenario, only about 50% of the increase can be explained by improved identification,” he said. “That means at least 50% remains unexplained. Talk to anyone in education or healthcare, and you’ll hear that the increase in children with all types of disabilities is evident.”
