The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its estimate of autism prevalence in the United States to 1 in 88 children (1 in 54 boys and 1 in 252 girls). By comparison, this is more children than are affected by diabetes, AIDS, cancer, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy or Down syndrome – combined.*
The new numbers - based on a 2008 snapshot of 14 monitoring sites - represent a 78 percent increase in autism over the previous five years. They represent a ten-fold (1,000 percent) increase in reported prevalence over the last four decades.
NBC's Today Show - "Alarming rise in autism cases reported"
World News with Diane Sawyer - "Autism Increase Among Children"
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CNN's - "Growing isolation for people with autism"
CNN's - "Dealing with growing autism epidemic"
CNN's - "CDC: 1 in 88 kids has autism"
CNN - Unraveling the Mystery, Mark Roithmayr interview
