In April 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report estimating the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the United States at 1 in 59 children. The figure was based on a 2014 survey of eight-year-old children across 11 residential communities in the country, so clearly it was out of date. It was not a valid estimate of the prevalence of ASD in the U.S. in 2017 or 2018,1 and we don’t know what the figure is for 2019.
As pediatrician Bob Sears, MD notes, the “main drawback” of this methodology by the CDC is that it takes “many years to research and report data this way, and the information is very old by the time we get it.” Dr. Sears adds:
For example, for kids born in 2004, the CDC had to wait until they were are 8 years old (2012), then take two years to gather the data on diagnosis rates, then publish it. So, we didn’t learn the rate of autism in these kids until 10 years after they are born.2
So long as the methodology (notably the four-year lag time and the focus on eight-year-olds) used by the CDC is known and understood, it is not a problem. The public just needs to be aware that the CDC’s autism prevalence figure is always going to be out of date by the time it is released.
A better source for more current information on the prevalence of autism in the U.S. is the National Health Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), which is the U.S. government’s principal health statistics agency.3
The NCHS conducts nationwide surveys to tabulate health data on different topics, including estimates for how prevalent autism is among children. In 2017, the NCHS published health data for 2014-2016 which pegged the prevalence of autism for children aged 3-17 years at 1 in 36 in 2016, compared to 1 in 43 in 2015 and 1 in 45 in 2014.2
As of 2017, the 1 in 36 figure appeared to be the most current estimate from the U.S. government for the prevalence of autism, not the 1 in 59 figure that has been so commonly cited by the media and other sources for the past year.4 5 6 7
To make things slightly more confusing, there is a new autism prevalence figure in a study published in the journal Pediatrics in December 2018 based on the 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH). That study estimates that 1 in 40 children have autism. The NSCH is funded and directed by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).8 9 10
References:
1 Parpia R, Fisher BL. CDC: Autism Rate Going Up. The Vaccine Reaction May 28, 2018.
2 Sears R. Autism Rate Jumps to 1 in 36 Children, 1 in 28 Boys. AskDrSears.
3 National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). U.S. National Library of Medicine.
4 University of Central Florida. Processed foods and effect on developing fetus’ brain: Autism link? Science Daily June 20, 2019.
5 How Common is Autism? Autism Science Foundation.
6 Staff News Writer. Wearable tech supports home therapy for kids with autism. American Medical Association June 21, 2019.
7 Max. I Have Autism and I’m Offended by the Anti-Vax Movement. Newsweek June 19, 2019.
8 Mozes A. Report: Autism Rate Rises to 1 in 40 Children. HealthDay Nov. 26, 2018.
9 Kogan MD, Vladutiu CJ, Schieve LA, Ghandour RM, Blumberg SJ, Zablotsky B, Perrin JM, Shattuck P, Kuhlthau KA, Harwood RL, Lu MC. The Prevalence of Parent-Reported Autism Spectrum Disorder Among US Children. Pediatrics December 2018; 142(6).
10 The National Survey of Children’s Health. Data Resource Center for Child & Adolescent Health.
17 Responses
Why is there no mention of rates of autism between boys and girls?
my daughter has autism and I know plenty of girls with autism. They weren’t the greater good either. I bet it would be almost 50/50 I have 3 sons who did not have autism.
Feel very frustrated by all the information exposing problems with vaccines, yet are no repercussions.
I have 11 grandchildren I’m concerned about, but because the medical doctors don’t believe there is a vaccine problem, public looks at us, who are aware as alarmists.
When articles are shared, they are viewed as false.
In my country we have no healthcare and we grew up not vaccinated. We don’t hear ADHD, ADD nor Autism. They can figure that out.
Autism is a business. Just like diabetes, just like cancer. Wake up America!
@Emy. What country are you speaking of?
WHY?? The increase can’t be genetic! Environmental causes are the reason and need to be addressed! Is it just a coincidence that two of my grandchildren had a severe reaction to the MMR vaccine and were suddenly autistic?
Yes, Autism is real and the situation is very frustrating. I am a doctor of Homeopathic Medicine and work the Autism cases. The system is not going to do anything until it becomes way out of control. It took many many years for them to realize that they were over prescribing Antibiotics, but this continued regardless. In California, they are doing everything they can to force parents to vaccinate with laws and now trying to eliminate all exemptions, other than medical. Kids today are getting up to 36 vaccines in their first year. It is just become a greedy, un ethical machine, and they do not care. I am not an anti vaccer, these diseases are real, but they have turned the vaccine story into a billion dollar business, like the Opiod business, just with vaccines. Please visit me if you would like more info on a safe alternative to vaccines and how to protect your rights as parents.
Jul 4, 2019 ORIGINS OF THE ‘ANTI-VAX’ MOVEMENT
Del’s heartfelt presentation at Autism One to an emotional audience living on the front lines of vaccine injury.
https://youtu.be/tiiomFiG7-s
So now its 1 in 36……and they still can’t put 2 and 2 together! Think about the future of America, the future of our military and the future of everything with a country full of autism.
How to we get in touch with practitioner Regalia?
I am a firm believer that this is environmental but also believe over use of vaccines contribute to this. I would love to see a study done on Vietnam veterans that were exposed to the chemical, Agent Orange because it’s know that their off spring are affected. Many of their grandchildren have autism. Government doesn’t want to take blame for any of that. My father was one of these Vets that serve during that time and these chemicals were dumped on them, for those that don’t know, these chemical were similar to the pesticide Round up. From what I heard this is going to effect 5 to 7 generations. It’s like they are waiting for us to die off.
How many of you know the state of New York passed legislation on June 13rd 2019 removing the religious exemption to vaccinations and this state is not the 1st. All children must be in compliance by the end of school year 2020 in order to attend any public or private institutions! Parents must prove there is a plan to receive the 70+ vaccinations by schools end! There was no public input the decision was made and signed by the governor in one day. This was outrageous and to matters worse there seems to be a national movement to do the same. It seems to me to be a plan to destroy our country from within and big pharma is happy to assist!
There was a recent MIT study that stated, 1/2 of all children in the U.S. will have Autism by 2023! They study went on to say, “this will lead to the cessation of America as we know it.” Will this scenario get the attention of all the knuckle heads?
There was a recent MIT study that stated, 1/2 of all children in the U.S. will have Autism by 2023! The study went on to say, “this will lead to the cessation of America as we know it.” Will this scenario get the attention of all the knuckleheads? Sorry for the type error, you never see your own mistakes.
When you research the experimentation methods used by the Nazi’s on concentration camp victims you can understand what is and has been happening today. Experiment on prisoners with vaccines and chemotherapy drugs. learn what sterilizes women. Reduce the population by making people sick and die, control the masses through fluoride in the water, polluted foods and chemtrails. Vaccinate to keep the diseases coming.The mis-creators make everything backwards; medical doctors become drug pushers and surgeons, bad becomes good, sickness means health, black is white, vaccines create health and so on. The medical system teaches doctors about a for-profit system that is the opposite of health, it is a disease model, not nutrition and prevention. Educate yourself and share with others what truly gets us healthy, restore your immune system and take care of your body mind and spirit. namaste’, rachel
Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology
Volume 46, March 2018, Pages 76-82 Aluminum in brain tissue in autism
Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder of unknown aetiology. It is suggested to involve both genetic susceptibility and environmental factors including in the latter environmental toxins. Human exposure to the environmental toxin aluminium has been linked, if tentatively, to autism spectrum disorder.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0946672X17308763