Autism Rising : Here We Go Again

Ah here we are, another year, another autism awareness right around the corner, and yet another new estimate of autism prevalence from the Centers for Disease Control.  But don't worry, the non-real "its all better awareness" increase is only about a 75% increase from the last "its all better awareness" increase.

The new number, which seems to be based on yet to be released survey data from National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) for 2011/2012, is that 1 in 50 school aged children (aged 6 to 17) have a form of autism.

For comparison -

• The last estimate of autism prevalence from the NSCH in 2009 was 1 in 100.
• The current estimate of autism prevalence of children born in 2000 is 1 in 88

So the current estimate from the NSCH probably contains estimates for children born after 2000, possibly as late as 2005-2006, but the rates in these children are going to be diluted by the (again probably) much lower rates in older children.  If I had to guess, I would guess that this most recent data shows an even higher rate than 1 in 50 in the youngest children.

I have to guess because no official study or data has been released yet.  As is quickly becoming the norm, we first find out about major announcements like this from the mainstream media before we have a chance to look at what the actual data says.

It will be interesting to see what the data actually shows when it finally gets released.

UPDATED : The report from the CDC is available here.