A new report was released this Thursday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that 1 out of 68 children in the United States has autism spectrum disorder. This reports reveled that there is a 30% increase in numbers since its last last release in 2012.
The study was conducted in 11 states, based on the CDC's assessment of health and educational records made to all 8-year old kids. Those 11 states includes Alabama, Georgia, Maryland, Arkansas, Arizona, North Carolina, Utah, Wisconsin, Colorado, Missouri, and New Jersey,
The report also provides an evaluation that male children are more likely to have the disorder than their female counterpart, having a 5:1 ratio. Many of this cases was discovered in the state of New Jersey. The autism spectrum disorder is most likely identified with white kids than those of the black or Hispanic children.
In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention started collecting data on autism rates since year 2000. They relied mostly from health and educational records. This rates in the U.S. is significantly lower during the start of these evaluations, giving an estimate of 1 out of 150 children were affected, a high increase from previous records.
The cause of increase in children identified with the autism spectrum disorder is not yet known. Although health professionals, childcare providers, and community leaders are already addressing for prioritizing early detection and diagnosis of this disorder. Children should be examined as early as 2 years old, so that kids can benefit from the services they need. An early intervention can provide better chances for the children to overcome the difficulties connected with ASM.
"It's not a cure, but it changes the trajectory," says Dr. Gary Goldstein, president and CEO of the Kennedy Krieger Institute and professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins University.
Awareness and education towards the general public and health care community, can also help on the treatment of autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disorders that are increasing in numbers.
