Prevalence of the autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in multiple areas of the United States in 2008; community report

Introduction -- What are autism spectrum disorders (ASDs)? -- Why do we need to know how many people have ASDs? -- What is the ADDM Network? --Results? -- State by state -- How can the data be used? -- Questions and answers -- What else do i need to know? -- Where can i get more information?

CDC's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities has been tracking ASDs for over a decade through the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network. The newest estimates from the ADDM Network are based on data collected in 14 areas of the United States during 2008. These 14 communities comprised over eight percent of the United States population of 8-year-olds in 2008. Information was collected on children who were 8 years old because previous work has shown that, by this age, most children with ASDs have been identified for services.