Researchers at Rutgers University recently published a study in the journal Pediatrics finding that autism diagnosis rates among 8-year-olds nearly tripled in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area from 2000 to 2016.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as a "developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges."
CDC data shows roughly 1 in 44 children nationally have been diagnosed with ASD. A 2021 report found national increases at rates similar to those found in the Rutgers study.
A big reason is greater awareness of its existence and complexities, as well as improvements in diagnostic tools and education. But other possible causes include a person’s genes and environmental circumstances.
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