A new government survey finds that more than 2 percent of
U.S. kids have been diagnosed with autism — or 1 in 45 children aged 3 and
older.
That seems like a startling increase from the last estimate
of 1 in 68 kids.
But the researchers are quick to point out that the latest
survey was done in a new way, asking parents different questions about their
kids and any diagnosis of autism. They say it's probably the most accurate
estimate yet, and stress that it almost certainly doesn't show some big
increase in autism actually occurring among children.
Instead, they say, it's clear that doctors are changing the
way they diagnose autism, and that parents are far more likely than in years
past to seek a diagnosis for their kids.
"One in 45 is what we think is the most accurate
parental report of autism to date. I think within this report we found that the
way that we ask the parents about autism spectrum disorder can have an impact
on the way the parents respond to the question," said Benjamin Zablotsky,
an epidemiologist at the National Center for Health Statistics who helped lead
the study.
To read more on this story, click here: New Survey Method Finds More Kids With Autism
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