The report is based on the findings by the CDC Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. This network consists of a series of sites across the united states that calculate the rates of autism diagnoses for specific communities. The network first provided autism estimates based on data obtained in 2000 and then 2002. Last week’s report is based on data obtained in 2006. I have previously reviewed how the CDC prevalence rates for autism are obtained, so I will focus this post on highlighting some across state variability and differences between the 2002 and 2006 results.

In sum, the 2006 data came from 11 states (Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Wisconsin). Teams at these sites reviewed the records of 8-year-old children living in specific communities. The teams reviewed medical/health and educational records for evidence of a probable autism diagnosis (education records were only monitored in 6 of the 11 states). When probable cases were identified, the records were then reviewed by clinicians to provide a final diagnosis based on DSM-IV criteria. The total number of ASD cases was then compared to the population of 8-year-olds for each target community.

The average ASD estimate across all sites was 9 per 1,000 children (1 in 111 children), but there was significant variability between the states:

Alabama: 1 in 166
Arizona: 1 in 82
Colorado: 1 in 133
Florida: 1 in 238
Georgia: 1 in 98
Maryland: 1 in 108
Missouri: 1 in 82
North Carolina: 1 in 96
Pennsylvania: 1 in 119
South Carolina: 1 in 116
Wisconsin: 1 in 131

Those sites that included a review of educational records had higher prevalence than those that relied only on health records:
Sites that included health and educational records: 1 in 98 children
Sites that included only health records: 1 in 133 children

Prevalence for boys alone:
Alabama: 1 in 110
Arizona: 1 in 53
Colorado: 1 in 87
Florida: 1 in 137
Georgia: 1 in 60
Maryland: 1 in 64
Missouri: 1 in 52
North Carolina: 1 in 59
Pennsylvania: 1 in 89
South Carolina: 1 in 70
Wisconsin: 1 in 79

The picture is much better for girls.

Prevalence for girls alone:
Alabama: 1 in 345
Arizona: 1 in 204
Colorado: 1 in 294
Florida: 1 in 1000
Georgia: 1 in 294
Maryland: 1 in 417
Missouri: 1 in 213
North Carolina: 1 in 294
Pennsylvania: 1 in 303
South Carolina: 1 in 385
Wisconsin: 1 in 435

Increases in ASD diagnoses from 2002 to 2006 among 8-year-old children:

Alabama: 82%
Arizona: 95%
Colorado: 27% (not statistically significant)
Florida: No 2002 data
Georgia: 34%
Maryland: 37%
Missouri: 66%
North Carolina: 60%
Pennsylvania: 58%
South Carolina: 43%
Wisconsin: 46%
AVERAGE: 57% increase.

A few last things to keep in mind:

- The report indicated that increases in prevalence was NOT due to increases in children diagnosed with PPD-NOS. That is, they found increases in the use of pure autism diagnoses too.
- The same diagnostic criteria was used in 2002 and 2006. The changes are NOT due to differences in diagnostic criteria.
- The report was not based on a nationally representative sample.
- Within State variability is so great that it is very likely that fluctuations in prevalence between states are due to methodological differences.
- HOWEVER, significant increases were also observed between sites that did not have changes in methodological procedures between 2002 and 2006.
- Thus, the increases from 2002 to 2006 are unlikely to be due to methodological differences
- There were no major changes from 2000 to 2002, which highlights the significance of the changes in diagnoses from 2002 to 2006.
- The study does not answer the question of “why”. We simply do not know why the prevalence rate of autism increased from 2002 to 2006.
- The new CDC estimates as more in line with a recent nation-wide autism prevalence study published in pediatrics.

The study concludes:

More children than ever before are receiving services for ASDs and are having symptoms of ASDs documented in developmental evaluation records. Even without fully understanding the complex causes of this increase in identified ASD prevalence, the impact on affected children, families, and communities is substantial. Prevalence estimates can be used to plan policy, educational, and intervention services needs for persons with ASDs. In addition to continued evaluation of ASD prevalence changes, major collaborative efforts are needed to improve research into what factors put certain people at risk and how to intervene to help reduce the debilitating symptoms of ASDs. Concerted efforts are essential to address the many needs of affected persons and to provide coordinated support services which improve daily functioning and long-term life outcomes
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Kogan, M., Blumberg, S., Schieve, L., Boyle, C., Perrin, J., Ghandour, R., Singh, G., Strickland, B., Trevathan, E., & van Dyck, P. (2009). Prevalence of Parent-Reported Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children in the US, 2007 PEDIATRICS, 124 (5), 1395-1403 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2009-1522

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