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Nationally, one in every 59 children is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Researchers are exploring the rise in autism rates in the United States in a new study. ( Cheryl Holt | pixabay )
In recent years, more and more children have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder across the United States.
Researchers are now working to better understand the state of development and its increased rate.
In the United States, one in every 59 children is diagnosed with autism, which equates to an autism rate of 1.7% of the country's infant population, according to a new report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The report, which comes from data from 4-year-olds in different states, indicates a significant increase in the number of autism cases – and researchers can not say exactly why.
The autism rate in New Jersey is the highest in the country
Of the seven states involved in the study, New Jersey has the highest autism rate, with one in 35 children suffering from this condition, an autism rate of 3%.
The authors of the study point out that New Jersey is renowned for its excellent clinical and educational services for autism. This means that their autism rates are probably more accurate and complete, which explains their above-average autism rate.
Walter Zahorodny of the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School led the New Jersey-based study portion and described the results consistently and surprisingly in a press release. He thinks that it is likely that the autism rate will rise even higher the next time researchers measure children.
The importance of early detection
Children whose autism is diagnosed early in life, just around the second anniversary of life, respond better to treatment than those diagnosed later.
Unfortunately, the only children currently being badessed for autism in this crucial window are those with the most severe cases. Late detection means that their treatment is also delayed.
For the moment, Zahorodny says that people are more aware of autism, but early detection is still effective.
The average age of diagnosis is still 53 months, as it has been for 15 years.
Zahorodny and the rest of the team encourage the improvement of early detection of autism, preferably when a child is between 18 and 24 months old, as he tells Gizmodo.
What is causing this increase?
Researchers are unable to identify the cause of the rise of autism throughout the country. Various factors have been identified, such as advanced age of the parents, maternal illness during pregnancy, genetic mutations, birth before 37 weeks, and multiple births.
However, Zahorodny says that these factors are not enough to explain the rising prevalence rate of autism.
"There are still undetermined environmental risks that contribute to this significant increase, factors that could affect a child's in utero development, related to the complications of birth or the neonatal period," Zahorodny said, adding that additional research was needed the non-genetic triggers of autism.
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