Cited by 3,780Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchChild Nutrition and Feeding IssuesFamily and Disability Support Research

Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 8 Years — Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 Sites, United States, 2016

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Maenner, Matthew J., Shaw, Kelly A., Baio, Jon, EdS1, Washington, Anita, Patrick, Mary, DiRienzo, Monica, Christensen, Deborah L. +28 more·2020·MMWR. Surveillance Summaries

Abstract

PROBLEM/CONDITION: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). PERIOD COVERED: 2016. DESCRIPTION OF SYSTEM: The Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network is an active surveillance program that provides estimates of the prevalence of ASD among children aged 8 years whose parents or guardians live in 11 ADDM Network sites in the United States (Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin). Surveillance is conducted in two phases. The first phase involves review and abstraction of comprehensive evaluations that were completed by medical and educational service providers in the community. In the second phase, experienced clinicians who systematically review all abstracted information determine ASD case status. The case definition is based on ASD criteria described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. RESULTS: For 2016, across all 11 sites, ASD prevalence was 18.5 per 1,000 (one in 54) children aged 8 years, and ASD was 4.3 times as prevalent among boys as among girls. ASD prevalence varied by site, ranging from 13.1 (Colorado) to 31.4 (New Jersey). Prevalence estimates were approximately identical for non-Hispanic white (white), non-Hispanic black (black), and Asian/Pacific Islander children (18.5, 18.3, and 17.9, respectively) but lower for Hispanic children (15.4). Among children with ASD for whom data on intellectual or cognitive functioning were available, 33% were classified as having intellectual disability (intelligence quotient [IQ] ≤70); this percentage was higher among girls than boys (39% versus 32%) and among black and Hispanic than white children (47%, 36%, and 27%, respectively) [corrected]. Black children with ASD were less likely to have a first evaluation by age 36 months than were white children with ASD (40% versus 45%). The overall median age at earliest known ASD diagnosis (51 months) was similar by sex and racial and ethnic groups; however, black children with IQ ≤70 had a later median age at ASD diagnosis than white children with IQ ≤70 (48 months versus 42 months). INTERPRETATION: The prevalence of ASD varied considerably across sites and was higher than previous estimates since 2014. Although no overall difference in ASD prevalence between black and white children aged 8 years was observed, the disparities for black children persisted in early evaluation and diagnosis of ASD. Hispanic children also continue to be identified as having ASD less frequently than white or black children. PUBLIC HEALTH ACTION: These findings highlight the variability in the evaluation and detection of ASD across communities and between sociodemographic groups. Continued efforts are needed for early and equitable identification of ASD and timely enrollment in services.

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  • The U.S. reports a consistent pattern of increased ASD prevalence among higher socioeconomic status families.

    “The U.S. reports a consistent pattern of increased ASD prevalence among higher socioeconomic status (SES) families (Baio et al. 2018; Durkin et al. 2010, 2017; Maenner et al. 2020; Pedersen et al. 2012), while European countries report increased prevalence among lower SES families (Delobel-Ayoub et al. 2015; Emerson 2012; Rai et al. 2012).”

    From The Diagnosis of Autism: From Kanner to DSM-III to DSM-5 and Beyond (2021) · cites this paper as Maenner et al. 2020

    The Introduction says previous ADDM surveillance years reported higher ASD prevalence among more socioeconomically advantaged groups. The Discussion specifies that the positive association was with neighborhood SES, not the SES of individual families; it also suggests differences in ASD identification may contribute to the pattern. (LLM, conf=0.83)

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  • In the U.S., African American, Hispanic, and Asian children are more likely to receive a diagnosis at a later age than Caucasian children.

    “In the U.S., African American, Hispanic, and Asian children are more likely to receive a diagnosis at a later age than Caucasian children (Maenner et al. 2020; Mandell et al. 2009; Palmer et al. 2010).”

    From The Diagnosis of Autism: From Kanner to DSM-III to DSM-5 and Beyond (2021) · cites this paper as Maenner et al. 2020

    The Age at First Evaluation and ASD Diagnosis section reports a later median diagnosis for Black than white children with ASD and IQ ≤70 (48 versus 42 months). Table 5 does not establish the broader claim: the overall median is 53 versus 51 months for Black and white children, but 51 months for both Hispanic and white children; it provides no diagnosis-age comparison for Asian children. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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  • While prevalence of ASD likely does not differ across racial and ethnic groups, the average age of diagnosis continues to differentiate these groups.

    “While prevalence of ASD likely does not differ across racial and ethnic groups (Fombonne 2003; Maenner et al. 2020), the average age of diagnosis continues to differentiate these groups.”

    From The Diagnosis of Autism: From Kanner to DSM-III to DSM-5 and Beyond (2021) · cites this paper as Maenner et al. 2020

    The citation is attached to the prevalence clause, not the subsequent claim about age at diagnosis. The ASD Prevalence section reports similar prevalence among white, black, and Asian/Pacific Islander children, but lower prevalence among Hispanic children; it therefore does not support the claim across racial and ethnic groups generally (page not provided). (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • While the percentage of children diagnosed with ASD and intellectual disability is higher among African American and Hispanic children compared to Caucasian children in the U.S., African American and Hispanic children are nevertheless diagnosed at a later age on average than Caucasian children.

    “Lastly, while the percentage of children diagnosed with ASD and intellectual disability is higher among African American and Hispanic children compared to Caucasian children in the U.S., African American and Hispanic children are nevertheless diagnosed at a later age on average than Caucasian children (Maenner et al. 2020).”

    From The Diagnosis of Autism: From Kanner to DSM-III to DSM-5 and Beyond (2021) · cites this paper as Maenner et al. 2020

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  • ASD diagnosis typically occurs later in Europe (3.5 years), the USA (4 years), and Canada (6 years).

    “however, diagnosis typically occurs later in Europe (3.5 years), USA (4 years), and Canada (6 years), exposing an opportunity to decrease the age at diagnosis and accelerate access to specialized healthcare.”

    From Tackling healthcare access barriers for individuals with autism from diagnosis to adulthood (2022) · cites this paper as [58]

    The Age at First Evaluation and ASD Diagnosis section reports a median US diagnosis age of 51 months (about 4.25 years), broadly supporting the USA figure. The Comparison with Other Autism Data Systems section discusses Canadian and Danish diagnoses but does not give a typical diagnosis age of 6 years for Canada or 3.5 years for Europe. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Authors
Maenner, M. J., Shaw, K. A., Baio, J., EdS1, Washington, A., Patrick, M., DiRienzo, M., Christensen, D. L., Wiggins, L. D., Pettygrove, S., Andrews, J. G., Lopez, M., Hudson, A., Baroud, T., Schwenk, Y., White, T., Rosenberg, C. R., Lee, L.-C., Harrington, R. A., Huston, M., Hewitt, A., PhD-7, Esler, A., Hall-Lande, J., Poynter, J. N., Hallas-Muchow, L., Constantino, J. N., Fitzgerald, R. T., Zahorodny, W., Shenouda, J., Daniels, J. L., Warren, Z., Vehorn, A., Salinas, A., Durkin, M. S., & Dietz, P. M.
Affiliations
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US)
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
  • University of Arizona (US)
  • University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (US)
  • Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (US)
  • Johns Hopkins University (US)
  • University of Minnesota (US)
  • Washington University in St. Louis (US)
  • Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (US)
  • University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
Corresponding author
Maenner, Matthew J.
Venue
MMWR. Surveillance Summaries
Published
2020-03-27
Volume
69
Issue
4
Pages
1-12
ISSN
  • 1545-8636 (ISSN-L)
  • 1546-0738
OpenAlex
W3027179734
Cited by
3,780
References
34
Citations by year
2026: 107 · 2025: 199 · 2024: 335 · 2023: 473 · 2022: 732 · 2021: 904 · 2020: 393 · 2019: 99 · 2018: 101 · 2017: 124 · 2016: 140 · 2015: 112 · 2014: 55 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
FWCI
336.19
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
public-domain
Locations
  • MMWR Surveillance Summaries (publishedVersion, public-domain)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UA Campus Repository (The University of Arizona) (acceptedVersion, public-domain)
Funders
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Family and Disability Support Research
Keywords
autism spectrum disorder, autism prevalence, sex differences, racial and ethnic disparities, intellectual disability, age at diagnosis, autism epidemiology, Black children, Hispanic children, white children, regional variation in prevalence, United States states and territories
MeSH terms
Autism Spectrum Disorder, Child, Female, Humans, Male, Population Surveillance, United States, Prevalence, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

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