On Point | Podcast What 25 years of CDC data on autism tells us
Sep 8, 2025
Elise Pass, a research professor at Johns Hopkins and co-leader of the CDC's Autism Monitoring Network, and neurologist Suzanne O'Sullivan from London delve into alarming findings: one in 31 American children are diagnosed with autism. They discuss the growing prevalence, the intricacies of diagnostic practices, and the unequal availability of services across communities. Historical data reveals potential overestimations and questions how changing definitions influence public perceptions. The duo emphasizes the need for a deeper understanding of autism in the context of societal responses.
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CDC's One-in-31 Snapshot
- The CDC's 2022 snapshot reports one in 31 eight-year-olds have autism, with boys ~3.5× more likely than girls.
- This prevalence is much higher than rare diseases like pediatric cancer and draws public attention.
Reports Are Community Snapshots
- The CDC's prevalence reports are community-level snapshots from selected sites, not full state estimates.
- These snapshots give the best possible estimate given available data and resources.
How Sites Are Selected
- Sites join the CDC network by application and must access detailed local data, so the chosen areas vary in size and represent community practices.
- Populations per site range roughly from 4,000 to 35,000 eight-year-olds, limiting statewide generalization.
