Autism rate: 1 in 59 Kids. It’s time to care.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just reported that autism now affects 1 in 59 children in America (1.) I am not surprised by this statistic because I, and every other pediatrician down here in the trenches, have known this for years. What also doesn’t surprise me is that the CDC still refuses to admit that autism is ON THE RISE. It’s right there under the Public Health Action in the summary: “the prevalence of ASD is higher than previously reported estimates.” A better statement from the CDC should be:  the worst public health crisis of our time is not only here, but it’s still getting worse and worse, and we don’t know why.