Autism Diagnosis Rates Among US Children Continue to Climb

A fresh report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals a rising trend in autism diagnoses among children across the nation. Experts attribute this ongoing increase primarily to improved awareness and enhanced screening processes.

In 2022, approximately 1 out of every 31 children was diagnosed with autism by the age of 8, a noticeable uptick from the 1 in 36 reported in 2020, as highlighted in the CDC’s publication on Tuesday. The findings show significant disparities in diagnosis rates based on gender, race, and geography. Boys have consistently shown higher diagnosis rates than girls, with a 3.4-fold difference observed among 8-year-olds this year. Furthermore, the condition was identified more frequently in Asian, Black, and Hispanic children compared to their White peers—a trend that has surfaced in recent years. Researchers at the CDC emphasize the importance of continued investment in autism research and early intervention to meet the increasing prevalence effectively.