CHICAGO (AP) — At 18 months, Cristina Astacio spoke only a few words, wouldn't respond to her name and shunned other kids in her day care group. In October, her worried parents found out why.
She has a mild form of autism, a diagnosis being given to more U.S. children than ever before, largely because of more awareness and better diagnosis.
According to new government statistics, the rate is about one in 88. That means autism is nearly twice as common as the government reported just five years ago. The largest increases are in Hispanic kids such as Cristina.
The definition of autism has changed over the years, and Cristina might not have been considered autistic two decades ago.
But experts say kids like her are lucky in a way because her parents recognized early that something was wrong. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report issued yesterday found that 40 percent of kids weren't diagnosed until after age 4. Evidence shows children who are identified early and get help have the best chance for reaching their potential, said CDC Director Thomas Frieden.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends autism screening for all children at age 18 months and 2 years.
Diagnosing the developmental disorder relies on observing behavior. Autism can't be cured, but treatment, including intensive behavior therapy, can help many kids function better.
Susan Hyman of the pediatrics academy said many children who aren't making eye contact and aren't talking "may have autism, but they may have other things." She said it's important for parents to be persistent about their concerns with their doctor so their kids can be evaluated.
Kristy Batesole of Atascadero, Calif., says she suspected something was wrong with her son, Keegan, even when he was a hard-to-calm overly fussy baby. He learned words, but by age 2, he stopped talking, would spend hours opening and closing doors, and sometimes bang his head on the ground.
Although he started getting special help in preschool in Nevada, he wasn't formally diagnosed with autism until last year, at age 6, after the family moved to California, where there are more autism specialists.
Experts, including CDC researchers, think broader screening and better diagnosis have largely contributed to the increase in autism cases.
The latest numbers are based on 2008 data from 14 states and suggest that autism rates have climbed 23 percent since 2006. Rates are highest in boys and white children. But the biggest rate increase was among Hispanics, from one in 270 in 2002 to about one in 125 in 2008.