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CHICAGO — Two new government studies indicate about 1 in every 100 children has an autism disorder — higher than a previous U.S. estimate of 1 in 150.
Greater awareness, broader definitions and spotting autism in younger children might explain some of the increase, federal health officials said.
“We’re going to have to think very hard about what we’re going to do for the 1 in 100,” said Dr. Thomas Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health.
The estimate would mean about 673,000 American children have autism. Previous estimates put the number at about 560,000.
