Autism Identification Rises to 1 in 31 U.S. Children, CDC Reports, With Gains in Underserved Groups

Autism Recognition Increases, With Demographic Shifts

The recognition of autism among U.S. children continues to rise, according to new data from the CDC's Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network. In 2022, 1 in 31 8-year-olds (3.2%) were identified with autism spectrum traits, up from 1 in 36 (2.8%) in 2020. The findings, published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, suggest improved screening and diagnosis—particularly among racial and ethnic minority groups—rather than a true increase in occurrence.

Improved Recognition in Underserved Groups

For the first time, autism identification was higher among Asian, Black, and Hispanic 8-year-olds than among White children, a shift researchers attribute to increased access to services and reduced disparities in recognition. The male-to-female identification ratio also narrowed slightly to 3.5:1, down from 4:1 in previous years, suggesting progress in recognizing autism in girls, who are often overlooked due to diagnostic biases.

In 2022, 1 in 31 8-year-olds (3.2%) were identified with autism spectrum traits, up from 1 in 36 (2.8%) in 2020.

Geographic Variability in Identification

Identification rates varied significantly by location, ranging from 1 in 19 children in California's San Diego region to 1 in 103 in parts of Texas. These differences likely reflect variations in diagnostic practices, access to healthcare, and awareness rather than true regional differences in autism. Among 4-year-olds, identification was much lower (1 in 323), indicating many children are still being recognized later than the age when support services are most impactful.

Understanding the Increase

Experts emphasize that the rising numbers primarily reflect broader understanding of neurodiversity, improved screening, and greater awareness, especially in communities that historically faced barriers to diagnosis. 'This report suggests progress in reaching underserved populations,' said a Johns Hopkins researcher analyzing the data. The neurodiversity movement's advocacy has played a key role in expanding recognition of autism across genders and cultures. No single factor explains the increase, as autism represents a natural variation in human neurology.