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Autism Much More Common Than We Thought: CDC

New survey shows 1 in every 100 kids autistic

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 5, 2009 7:54 AM CDT

(Newser) – Roughly 1 in every 91 American 8-year-olds has been diagnosed with autism, a rate significantly worse than the 1 in 150 estimated in 2007, finds a new CDC survey that will be released later this year. The study showed that autism is “an urgent public health concern,” CDC officials said, but they cautioned that the higher rate didn’t necessarily mean the disorder is growing more common.

It’s possible that it’s the ability to detect the disease has simply improved. “This has the tremendous potential to scare people,” one epidemiologist tells the Chicago Tribune. “It is very unlikely that there has been an explosive increase in the way that has been portrayed in the media.”

Autistic students participate in a program designed to develop their social skills in this file photo.
Autistic students participate in a program designed to develop their social skills in this file photo.   (AP Photo/Kim Johnson Flodin)
Elias Cazares Jr., 13, participates in a program designed to help autistic children develop social skills in this June 10, 2009 file photo.
Elias Cazares Jr., 13, participates in a program designed to help autistic children develop social skills in this June 10, 2009 file photo.   (AP Photo/Kim Johnson Flodin)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 12 comments
usualsuspects
Oct 6, 2009 12:50 PM CDT
Thank you. Everyone wants to explain away their little difficulties in life with some sort of medical explanation, when it's only rarely that the symptoms are debilitating to the point that it cannot be overcome through a little effort.
usualsuspects
Oct 6, 2009 12:46 PM CDT
Because mercury totally messes up your DNA structure. Autism is a genetic disorder, dontlikeyou.
cognitivefilter
Oct 6, 2009 5:22 AM CDT
animal therapy

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