CDC Releases Updated Prevalence Rates

Today, the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network shared its most recent data on autism prevalence in the United States. The current prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder is 1 in 31 nationally. In New Jersey, the prevalence is 1 in 29.

Understanding these numbers

For about 25 years, the CDC’s ADDM Network has been reviewing records of 8 year olds across the country in some states, including New Jersey, and issuing biennial reports on their prevalence findings. The last report was issued in 2023, and this most recent report is based on records reviewed in 2022 (children who were born in 2014).

More facts and figures about autism prevalence

• Autism continues to be more likely in boys than girls. The current report states that it is 3.4 times more likely.
• Approximately 40% of those with autism also have an intellectual disability. The occurrence of intellectual disability is similar in boys and girls, but racial differences exist. Black children had the highest proportion of co-occurrent intellectual disability (53%) while multiracial and white children had the lowest (31% and 33%, respectively).
• There continue to be racial and socioeconomic differences in the prevalence of autism. The 2023 study was the first to report lower rates of autism among white children than other racial groups and this year’s report continues that trend.
• At 11 of the 16 study sites, there was no association between prevalence and median household income. At five sites, including New Jersey, however, the report found a higher prevalence of autism in lower income neighborhoods.
• Nationally, the median age of diagnosis is just under 4 years old (47 months). In New Jersey, the median age of diagnosis is lower at 43 months. Nationally and in New Jersey, age at diagnosis is slightly younger for those with co-occurring intellectual disabilities and slightly older for those without intellectual disabilities.
• The study also reviewed records of 4-year-olds who were born in 2018 and found the prevalence to be 29.3 (1 in 34) nationally and 36.4 (about 1 in 27) in New Jersey. The study authors note that more evaluations were conducted at 0-4 years old for the children born in 2018 as compared to those born 4 years earlier in 2014. This shows an increased focus on and improvement in early identification and could contribute to the increased overall prevalence from the last report.