Autism Statistics - What Are the Current Statistics on Autism?

Cases of autism have been on the rise for someannually.
time now. This is the fastest growingAutism affects more boys that girls. One in 166
developmental disability. Recent statistics showare diagnosed making it one in 41 boys.
that one in 150 births result in a form of autism.Approximately 4 million children are born each
This means that 1 to 1.5 million Americans sufferyear, which means that approximately 24,000 of
in some form from autism. This number does notthese children will be diagnosed with autism. Up to
include all those who suffer from PDD and500,000 individuals under the age of 21 have
Asperger's and other spectrum disorders.autism. Autism is the sixth more commonly
Since the 1990s autism cases have risen 13% inclassified disability in the US.
the US. The cost to treat those who are in needAutism was added as a special education need in
is $90 billion dollars a year. Early diagnosis is1991. In 2003, approximately 141,000 children
important and can reduce the costs associatedwere classified for special education services
with lifelong care by two thirds. The ASA predictsunder the autism classification.
that in 10 years these costs will double if not tripleWhile the numbers of classified cases rise,
and be somewhere in the vicinity of $200 - $400difficulty comes in determining if this is because of
a year.better identification and classification or if an
In the US a new case of autism is diagnosedincrease truly exists. Regardless, Autism spectrum
almost every 20 minutes. As many as 24,000disorders are second to mental retardation as the
new cases of autism are established each year.most common developmental disability. Autism
Yet autism receives less than 5% of funding,however, is still less common that speech or
which is considerably less than many otherlanguage impairments, learning disabilities and
childhood diseases that are less prevalent. One inADHD.
150 are funded for approximately $15 million