The CDC report states that, among 8-year-olds, one in 31 was found to have autism in 2022, compared with 1 in 36 in 2020. That rate is nearly five times as high as the figure in 2000, when the agency first began collecting data.
Maggie Moore, Executive Director of Hope Network’s Center for Autism, says the increase is most likely due to better awareness and screening, not necessarily because autism itself is becoming more common.
“Most doctors’ office at your 18-month appointment will now do kind of a checklist that will help indicate to them if there is a potential possibility that your child is on the spectrum, and then they may refer you out from there.”
While the causes of autism remain largely unknown, Moore says researchers believe it has a genetic component, such as in twins.
“You’ll see that if there are two identical or nearly identical fraternal twins, one being diagnosed with autism, it is more likely that that second twin will also be diagnosed with autism, but not always will they be diagnosed with autism.”
Moore says Hope Network already offers autism diagnostic services at its Kentwood and Lansing locations, and plans on expanding those services to Holland as well.
