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Study revamps autism thinking

By Associated press
Published February 9, 2007

ATLANTA - About one in 150 American children has autism, U.S. health officials said Thursday, calling the troubling disorder an urgent public health concern that is more common than they had thought.

The new numbers are based on the largest study done so far in the United States, and trump previous estimates of 1 in 166.

The difference means about 50,000 more children and young adults could have autism and related disorders than previously thought.

"This data today show we're going to need more early intervention services and more therapists, and we're going to need federal and state legislators to stand up for these families," said Alison Singer, spokeswoman for Autism Speaks, a group that advocates for autism services.

The study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was based on 2002 data from all or part of 14 states. It involved an intense review of medical and school records.

"Autism is more common than we believed," said Catherine Rice, a CDC behavioral scientist who was the study's lead author.

The study is not demographically representative of the nation, so officials cautioned against using the results as a national average. Some of the most-populous states like California, Texas and Florida are not included.

Fast Facts:

What is autism?

Autism is a complex neurological disorder usually not diagnosed in children until after age 3. It is characterized by a range of behaviors, including difficulty in expressing needs and inability to socialize.

[Last modified February 9, 2007, 01:01:02]