New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that one in 31 children in the United States is diagnosed with autism before the age of eight.
It also found that the prevalence of autism was higher among Asian or Pacific Islander, Black, and Hispanic children aged eight years compared to white children of the same age, continuing a pattern first observed in 2020. The same group was also more likely to have co-occurring learning disabilities.
The identification rate by age 48 months was higher among children born in 2018 than among those born in 2014, suggesting increased early identification consistent with historical patterns.
Boys have consistently had higher rates of autism diagnosis than girls: In 2022, there was a 3.4-fold difference in rates among 8-year-olds, according to the new CDC report. Although that ratio has started to narrow in recent years, the new report notes that it’s not simply because of improvements in identification in girls.
The CDC says these continued increases in prevalence and improvements in early identification of autism could indicate a growing need for services.
The data was based on information collected from eight-year-olds in 16 communities in 2022 through the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) network.
The US Department of Health and Human Services recently launched what it called a “massive testing and research effort” to identify “what has caused the autism epidemic” by September. However, the new CDC report suggests that improved diagnostic practices can help explain many recent findings.
The Autism Society of America said this rise in prevalence does not signal an “epidemic” as narratives are claiming — it reflects diagnostic progress, and an urgent need for policy decisions rooted in science and the immediate needs of the autism community.
It added: “Early screening is critical, because early intervention is strongly associated with improved developmental, behavioral, and educational outcomes. The median age of diagnosis remains 47 months, or about 4 years of age, —well past those critical early developmental years. This is why the Autism Society encourages three screenings before age three. This gap reflects a continuing need for universal screening, better pediatrician training, and systems that connect families to services when concerns first arise, not just at formal diagnosis.”
In England, the prevalence of autism is estimated to be more than one in 100 people, but more research is needed to know for sure. There are at least 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK. These numbers are not the same as the number of people with an autism diagnosis.
NHS data showing that 212,964 people in the UK were still waiting for an autism assessment as of December 2024 has hindered the accuracy of the figure. This represents an 82% increase compared to the same period two years prior.
In England, NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidance states that no one should wait longer than 13 weeks for an assessment. However, data shows that 90% (191,656) of those awaiting an assessment have been waiting longer than the recommended 13 weeks.
If waiting lists continue to grow at this rate, by this time next year, there will be over 260,000 people waiting for an autism assessment.
The British Medical Association said that the importance of investing in and designing services to support the health of children cannot be overstated. What happens in the earliest stages of life shapes what happens later on, and the time it takes to provide this support is key.
It said: “Delays and long waiting times for diagnosis, followed by inadequate or ineffective support, can be significant barriers to a child or young person’s development. And yet too many are being failed at these two critical junctures.”
In 2023, NHS England published the Autism Assessment Framework and Operational Guidance to reinforce assessment standards. However, integrated care boards are not able to follow the framework due to a lack of funding for the workforce and recruitment. Campaigners say that ringfenced funding is needed to establish this standardised process and bring down waiting times.
The BMA added that the potential impacts of a delayed diagnosis on a child’s development include denying a child or young person the opportunity to understand their response to different situations, causing undue stress to families, delaying the diagnosis of other mental health conditions and increased financial costs.
