United States autism prevalence

Concerns have also been raised about the possible relationship between Hg exposure from vaccines and autistic disorders. In the United States, the prevalence of autism has risen from 1 in approximately 2500 in the mid 1980s to 1 in approximately 300 children in the midl990s. Several investigators believe that this rise is because of the Hg that is... 

Newschaffer CJ, Falb MD, Gurney JG (2005) National autism prevalence trends from United States special education. Pediatrics, 115(3) e277-282. 

It should be noted that these prevalence rates may be underestimates of mental illness in the United States. First, the sample drawn was household listings and thus did not include individuals who were homeless or institutionalized (such as in nursing homes or psychiatric hospitals). Second, the study did not assess some less common psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and autism. 

Autism is now considered one of the most common disorders of development worldwide. Studies performed by the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in selected communities in 2002 suggest that the current prevalence rates for ASD are approximately 1 in 150 children (Kuehn, 2007). The increase in the reported prevalence of ASD has been attributed by some to improved ascertainment, a broadening of the diagnostic definition, and improved public and professional... 

Centers for Disease Control, Prevalence to autism spectrum disorders— Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, United States, 2006, MMWR SurveUl. Summ. 58 (10) (2009) 1-20. 

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