U.S. Autism Rates Rise to 1 in 31 — A Warning Sign for Canada?
A new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals a startling rise in autism diagnoses in the United States: 1 in 31 8-year-olds had an autism diagnosis in 2022 — up from 1 in 36 just two years earlier. Among boys, the numbers are even more concerning: 1 in 20 nationally.
For Canadians, these figures raise serious concerns. According to the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth (CHSCY), 1 in 50 Canadian children and youth aged 1 to 17 have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) — If following the U.S. trend, the rate must be much higher today.
CHD’s CEO Mary Holland points to a public health system that has failed to investigate environmental causes, including vaccine ingredients, industrial chemicals and pharmaceuticals, despite decades of parent reports and growing scientific concern.
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has now launched a global research initiative to uncover the root causes of autism, with findings expected in September. He called the autism crisis “a thousand times more threatening than COVID-19,” emphasizing its preventability.
The CDC’s report also undermines the idea that rising autism rates are simply the result of better diagnosis. In fact, nearly two-thirds of children diagnosed in 2022 had an intellectual disability or borderline IQ, indicating the increase is not just due to more awareness or milder cases being identified.
In Canada, autism services are already stretched thin, with families facing long waitlists, regional disparities and limited funding support. If the U.S. trajectory is any indication, Canada must act now to demand transparency, fund meaningful research, and improve care and prevention — before it’s too late.
Contact Your Representatives and tell them you want updated autism statistics for Canada now.
Read original article from CHD’s The Defender HERE
Watch RFK Jr.’s first press conference as HHS Secretary:
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