Health & Fitness
1 In 88 Kids Being Diagnosed Autistic
The new rate is nearly two times higher than data suggested in 2002.
April is Autism Awareness Month. I can't help but think of the many families in our community that have a child with Autism or know some one that does.
The Centers for Disease Control just released its new findings on the number of children diagnosed with Autism: 1 in 88 are now being diagnosed with some form of Autism Spectrum Disorder (1 in 54 boys).
On this Autism Awareness Day, I just wanted to spread awareness to our community.
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Editor's Note: The latest numbers from the CDC are based on 2008 data from 14 states.
"The new rate is nearly two times higher than data suggested in 2002, roughly 1 in 150 kids. And it's 23 percent higher than a later estimate of 1 in 110 based on 2006 data. Rates are highest in boys and white children. But the biggest rate increase was among Hispanics, from 1 in 270 in 2002 to about 1 in 125 in 2008," according to an Associated Press report published March 30.
Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Experts are saying that the increase in the number of children with autism appears to be the result of broader screening and better diagnostics. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends autism screening for all children at age 18 months and 2 years.
