The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released alarming new numbers on the incidence of autism diagnoses among American children. These discoveries emphasize a salient crisis that requires immediate action. This is why in 2022, the CDC made headlines with a shocking statistic — one in 31 children diagnosed with autism at age 8. That’s a huge jump over past years. This is an important figure to note as it marks a very negative trend, with the rate of autism in boys growing to one in 20. The new autism data makes it clear that autism prevalence has skyrocketed to five times that of the year 2000. This worrisome trend has re-ignited debates about possible contributing factors and the desperate need for more research.
According to the National Autism Association, approximately 40% of children on the spectrum are non-verbal. This staggering statistic begs the question of just how far-reaching the impacts of this fairly common disorder extend. For some people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), there may be an identifiable genetic condition. What causes autism is not yet known. Vaccines and autism The CDC explains that countless studies have investigated the possible connection between vaccines and autism. Taken together, these studies do a good job of illustrating that there’s often no link between the two.
Mayo Clinic explains that most people with ASD experience more severe behaviors. These often manifest as self-harming behaviors such as skin biting or head-banging. At the same time, autism prevalence is skyrocketing. In 2020 only one in 36 children received such a diagnosis, and by 2022 that rate had climbed even higher — worrisome trends for the children impacted and their families.
New Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is moving to do something about it. In response to these findings, he announced new studies to search for possible connections between environmental toxins and autism. “We’re gonna announce a series of new studies to identify precisely what the environmental toxins are that are causing it,” said Kennedy. He underscored that this new research endeavor is an important step toward uncovering the reasons behind increasing autism rates.
Kennedy went on to stress the urgent need for services for families affected by autism. He particularly called attention to those with children with extreme symptoms. He’s made a big show of his commitment to figuring out what’s causing this autism epidemic and coming up with some answers by September. “Bottom line, the more than 25% of people who have severe autism will never go on a date, write a poem, live independently, or have a job,” he stated. “We need to identify the exposures that are causing this epidemic and compensate the families of the injured.”
In addition to recognizing the myriad challenges that many on the autism spectrum deal with, Kennedy recognized the stories of success that exist. There are tons of awesome kids with autism out there, and you should hear about them. They’re maintaining employment, they’re able to earn a pay check, they’re able to live on their own,” he added. This short statement underscores a complicated truth. Appropriate levels of support and intervention can lead to thriving outcomes for many people on the spectrum.
The HHS is beginning new research projects. In the meantime, the communities and families impacted by autism continue to wait desperately for answers that will help improve our awareness and outreach efforts. The dramatic rise in autism diagnoses is raising concern among important stakeholders from all sectors. They are calling for the full analysis of usage studies to reveal the environmental triggers underlying this urgent public health crisis.
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