Published online March 1, 2005
PEDIATRICS Vol. 115 No. 3 March 2005, pp. e277-e282 (doi:10.1542/peds.2004-1958)
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Newschaffer, C. J.
Right arrow Articles by Gurney, J. G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Newschaffer, C. J.
Right arrow Articles by Gurney, J. G.
Related Collections
Right arrow Office Practice
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Facebook   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati   Add to Twitter  
What's this?

ELECTRONIC ARTICLE

National Autism Prevalence Trends From United States Special Education Data

Craig J. Newschaffer, PhD*, Matthew D. Falb, MHS* and James G. Gurney, PhD{ddagger}

* Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities Epidemiology, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
{ddagger} Divisions of Epidemiology and Clinical Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Objective. Reports of large increases in autism prevalence have been a matter of great concern to clinicians, educators, and parents. This analysis uses a national data source to compare the prevalence of autism with that of other disabilities among successive birth cohorts of US school-aged children.

Design. Comparison of birth cohort curves constructed from administrative data.

Setting and Population. US children 6 to 17 years of age between 1992 and 2001.

Main Outcome Measures. A disability category classification of autism, mental retardation, speech and language impairment, traumatic brain injury, or other health impairment, as documented by state departments of education and reported to the Office of Special Education Programs, US Department of Education.

Results. Prevalences of disability category classifications for annual birth cohorts from 1975 to 1995 were calculated by using denominators from US Census Bureau estimates. For the autism classification, there were birth cohort differences, with prevalences increasing among successive (younger) cohorts. The increases were greatest for annual cohorts born from 1987 to 1992. For cohorts born after 1992, the prevalence increased with each successive year but the increases did not appear to be as great, although there were fewer data points available within cohorts. No concomitant decreases in categories of mental retardation or speech/language impairment were seen. Curves for other health impairments, the category including children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, also showed strong cohort differences.

Conclusions. Cohort curves suggest that autism prevalence has been increasing with time, as evidenced by higher prevalences among younger birth cohorts. The narrowing in vertical separation of the cohort curves in recent years may mark a slowing in the autism prevalence increase.

Key Words: autism • prevalence • trends

Abbreviations: ASD, autism spectrum disorder • OSEP, Office of Special Education Programs • IDEA, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act • ADHD, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder • TBI, traumatic brain injury • MADDSP, Metropolitan Atlanta Developmental Disabilities Surveillance Program

Accepted Oct 22, 2004.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Facebook Facebook   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati   Add to Twitter Twitter    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Arch Pediatr Adolesc MedHome page
E. T. Parner, D. E. Schendel, and P. Thorsen
Autism Prevalence Trends Over Time in Denmark: Changes in Prevalence and Age at Diagnosis
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, December 1, 2008; 162(12): 1150 - 1156.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 The Annals of PharmacotherapyHome page
J. M Stachnik and C. Nunn-Thompson
Use of Atypical Antipsychotics in the Treatment of Autistic Disorder
Ann. Pharmacother., April 1, 2007; 41(4): 626 - 634.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch Pediatr Adolesc MedHome page
H. O. Atladottir, E. T. Parner, D. Schendel, S. Dalsgaard, P. H. Thomsen, and P. Thorsen
Time Trends in Reported Diagnoses of Childhood Neuropsychiatric Disorders: A Danish Cohort Study
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, February 1, 2007; 161(2): 193 - 198.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch Pediatr Adolesc MedHome page
W. J. Barbaresi, S. K. Katusic, and R. G. Voigt
Autism: A Review of the State of the Science for Pediatric Primary Health Care Clinicians.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, November 1, 2006; 160(11): 1167 - 1175.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch Pediatr Adolesc MedHome page
J. G. Gurney, M. L. McPheeters, and M. M. Davis
Parental Report of Health Conditions and Health Care Use Among Children With and Without Autism: National Survey of Children's Health
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, August 1, 2006; 160(8): 825 - 830.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 The Annals of PharmacotherapyHome page
G. M ElChaar, N. M Maisch, L. M G. Augusto, and H. J Wehring
Efficacy and Safety of Naltrexone Use in Pediatric Patients with Autistic Disorder
Ann. Pharmacother., June 1, 2006; 40(6): 1086 - 1095.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 NeuroscientistHome page
M. R. Herbert
Large Brains in Autism: The Challenge of Pervasive Abnormality
Neuroscientist, October 1, 2005; 11(5): 417 - 440.
[Abstract] [PDF]