TLDR
More children are being identified with autism at younger ages, especially in groups that were previously less likely to be diagnosed. This means more kids may get help earlier, but there are still big differences in how and when children are identified depending on where they live.
Summary
This content was automatically synthesized by Credo's AI models directly from the original source text.
AI summaries can make mistakes — double-check important details against the original source.
1 Study Aim
The study aims to measure how common autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is among children aged 4 and 8 years in 16 different communities across the United States in 2022. It also seeks to understand how early children are being identified with ASD, and whether there are differences in identification based on sex, race, ethnicity, or neighborhood income. The authors want to provide data that can help communities plan for services and improve early and fair identification of ASD. The study set out to find out how many children have autism and how early they are being diagnosed in different parts of the country.
2 Study Design
Researchers used the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, which collects information from health and education records in 16 U.S. sites. They looked at children who were 4 or 8 years old in 2022 and lived in the surveillance areas. Children were counted as having ASD if they had a diagnosis, special education eligibility, or a relevant medical code. The study also tracked children suspected of having ASD at age 4. Data included demographic details, cognitive test results, and the types of autism tests used. Statistical methods, including Bayesian modeling, were used to analyze prevalence and trends. The study reviewed health and school records for thousands of 4- and 8-year-olds in 16 U.S. communities to see how many had autism and how early they were identified.
3 Findings
The study reveals that in 2022, about 1 in 31 children aged 8 years were identified with ASD across the 16 sites, with rates ranging widely by location. ASD was 3.4 times more common in boys than girls. Prevalence was higher among Asian or Pacific Islander, Black, Hispanic, American Indian/Alaska Native, and multiracial children than among White children. About 40% of children with ASD also had an intellectual disability, with higher rates in Black and American Indian/Alaska Native children. Children born in 2018 were more likely to be identified with ASD by age 4 than those born in 2014, showing progress in early identification. The COVID-19 pandemic briefly disrupted evaluations, but early identification rebounded. The study recommends improving access to diagnostic and support services, especially in communities with lower identification rates, and learning from successful local practices to ensure all children with ASD get timely help. More children are being diagnosed with autism, especially at younger ages and in groups that were previously less likely to be identified, but there are still big differences depending on where they live.