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Increasing Incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorders Continues in Indiana

Contributed by Dr. Cathy Pratt, BCBA-D,

Director, Indiana Resource Center for Autism

In February 2007, the Centers for Disease Control issued a report based on a sample of 8 year olds, and concluded that the prevalence of autism had risen to 1 in 150 in American children and almost 1 in 94 among boys. By 2009, based on a similar sample, that incidence had increased to 1 in 110. Clearly, each year more children are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This article provides incidence rates for Indiana based on child count data collected through the Indiana Department of Education, Office of Special Education. Today, Indiana’s incidence rate is
1 in 83.

Study: Incidence of Autism Skyrockets to More Than 1 in 88 Children

USA Today contributed to its story.

Indy Star reporter Shari Rudavsky

Autism rates have skyrocketed, with one in 88 children falling on the autism spectrum, says a new government report. But the study comes as a professional group considers changing the diagnosis criteria, which could bring another overhaul of the statistics related to autism.

A study released Thursday in a Centers for Disease Control andPrevention journal found that one in 88 eight-year-olds in 2008 were diagnosed with autism, a 23 percent increase from 2006. As many as one in 54 boys fit the criteria for autism. “Even though the numbers have increased, it’s not necessarily a horrible thing,” said Dana Renay, executive director of the Autism Society of Indiana. “Finally the stigma might be coming down in the sense that people are a little bit more willing to say ‘I don’t want something to be wrong with my family member and I know where to go to get support.’?“ Historically Indiana has had a higher than average rate of autism, which Renay attributed to the many clinicians here skilled at diagnosing and treating it.