
According to the CDC, ADDM reports have consistently noted that more white children are identified with ASD than black or Hispanic children. The spotlight shining on autism, as a result, has opened opportunities for the nation to consider how to serve people on the autism spectrum and their families.Īlthough autism impacts people regardless of race or ethnicity, there are racial and ethnic disparities in diagnosis. The report concluded that the prevalence of autism had risen to 1 in every 54 – twice as great as the 2004 rate of 1 in 125.


In 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued its ADDM autism prevalence report. To learn more about receiving an autism diagnosis, visit our page about diagnosis. What this can look like : Repeating sounds or phrases (echolalia), repetitive movements, preference for sameness and difficulty with transition or routine, rigid or highly restricted and intense interests, extreme sensitivity to or significantly lower sensitivity to various sensory stimuliĪccording to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, which is used by clinicians to diagnose autism, these core features of autism must be present in early childhood but may not fully manifest until social demands exceed the person’s capacity to cope with them, and challenges may be masked by learned coping strategies. Restricted and repetitive behavior, patterns, activities and interests.What this can look like : Being nonverbal or having atypical speech patterns, having trouble understanding nonverbal communication, difficulty making and keeping friends, difficulty maintaining typical back-and-forth conversational style Persistent differences in communication, interpersonal relationships, and social interaction across different environments.While there is currently no known single cause of autism, early diagnosis helps a person receive the support and services that they need, which can lead to a quality life filled with opportunity. Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a “spectrum condition” that affects people differently and to varying degrees.

