According to the CDC

The rate of autism has steadily increased, according to the CDC. The CDC estimates that approximately 2% or more of children from birth to 21 years of age have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in New Jersey.

Autism is a complex condition. No single factor can explain why more children are being identified with ASD, although a combination of genetic and environmental factors play a role. In addition, some of the increase in the rates in the CDC's study may be due to: changes in the diagnosis and treatment, greater awareness, and better record keeping.

---

Previous CDC Autism Prevalence Study Results

A Decade of Data

With the report released in March 2014, we now have a decade of surveillance data utilizing consistent methodology that presents a clear picture of the trends since 2000. Here are the numbers:

1 in 68 (US); 1 in 45 (NJ)
Report Year: 2014
Surveillance Year:  2010

CDC’s ADDM Network reported that about 1 in 68 children had an ASD (based on children who were 8 years old in 2010). Data from 11 AADM Network Sites were reviewed, including New Jersey. New Jersey's rate was approx. 21.9 per 1,000 or 1 in 45.  See 2014 Report.

1 in 88 (US); 1 in 49 (NJ)
Report Year: 2012
Surveillance Year:  2008

CDC’s ADDM Network reported that about 1 in 88 children had an ASD (based on children who were 8 years old in 2008). Data from 14 AADM Network Sites were reviewed, including New Jersey. New Jersey's rate was approx. 20.5 per 1,000 or 1 in 49.  See 2012 Report.

1 in 110 (US)
Report Year: 2009Surveillance Year:  2006 

CDC’s ADDM Network reported that about 1 in 110 children had an ASD (based on children who were 8 years old in 2006).
Data from 11 AADM Network Sites were reviewed.  New Jersey was not included in this report.  See 2009 Report.

1 in 150 (US); 1 in 94 (NJ)
Report Year: 2007Surveillance Year:  2002

CDC’s ADDM Network reported that about 1 in 150 children had an ASD (based on children who were 8 years old in 2002).
Data from 14 AADM Network Sites were reviewed, including New Jersey. New Jersey's rate was approx. 10.6 per 1,000 or 1 in 94. This report combined results from 2002 with those from 2000.  See 2007 Report.

1 in 166 (US); 1 in 101 (NJ)
Report Year: 2007Surveillance Year:  2000

CDC’s ADDM Network first reported that about 1 in 166 children had an ASD (based on children who were 8 years old in 2000).
Data from 6 AADM Network Sites were reviewed, including New Jersey.  New Jersey's rate was approx. 9.9 per 1,000 or 1 in 101.  This report combined results from 2000 with the data from 2002.  See 2007 Report.

---

Other Prevalence Studies/Surveys

National Survey of Children's Health -- 1 in 50 (US)

Report Date:  March 20, 2013
Survey Period:  2011 to 2012
Report:  http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr065.pdf

Statistics as reported by parents of school-aged children (ages 6–17 years) in 2011–2012.  Data were drawn from the 2007 and 2011–2012 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH), which are independent nationally representative telephone surveys of households with children. The surveys were conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics with funding and direction from the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau.  Prior report of data from 2007 survey indicated a rate of 1 in 86 children (ages 6-17).

http://www.autismnj.org/prevalence-rates 

Prevalence of Autism in a United States Population: The Brick Township, New Jersey, Investigation

Objective. This study determined the prevalence of autism for a defined community, Brick Township, New Jersey, using current diagnostic and epidemiologic methods.

Methods. The target population was children who were 3 to 10 years of age in 1998, who were residents of Brick Township at any point during that year, and who had an autism spectrum disorder. Autism spectrum disorder was defined as autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), and Asperger disorder. The study used 4 sources for active case finding: special education records, records from local clinicians providing diagnosis or treatment for developmental or behavioral disabilities, lists of children from community parent groups, and families who volunteered for participation in the study in response to media attention. The autism diagnosis was verified (or ruled out) for 71% of the children through clinical assessment. The assessment included medical and developmental history, physical and neurologic evaluation, assessment of intellectual and behavioral functioning, and administration of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule—Generic.

Results. The prevalence of all autism spectrum disorders combined was 6.7 cases per 1000 children. The prevalence for children whose condition met full diagnostic criteria for autistic disorder was 4.0 cases per 1000 children, and the prevalence for PDD-NOS and Asperger disorder was 2.7 cases per 1000 children. Characteristics of children with autism in this study were similar to those in previous studies of autism.

Conclusions. The prevalence of autism in Brick Township seems to be higher than that in other studies, particularly studies conducted in the United States, but within the range of a few recent studies in smaller populations that used more thorough case-finding methods.

By: J

acquelyn Bertrand, PhD, 

Audrey Mars, MD, 

Coleen Boyle, PhD,  

Frank Bove, ScD, 

Marshalyn Yeargin-Allsopp, MD, 

Pierre Decoufle, ScD

PEDIATRICS Vol. 108 No. 5 November 1, 2001 
pp. 1155 -1161 

From: Pediatrics, the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics