The Prevalence of ParentReported Autism Spectrum Disorder Among US Children
OBJECTIVES: To estimate the national prevalence of parent-reported autism spectrum disorder
(ASD) diagnosis among US children aged 3 to 17 years as well as their treatment and health
care experiences using the 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH).
METHODS: The 2016 NSCH is a nationally representative survey of 50 212 children focused
on the health and well-being of children aged 0 to 17 years. The NSCH collected parentreported information on whether children ever received an ASD diagnosis by a care
provider, current ASD status, health care use, access and challenges, and methods of
treatment. We calculated weighted prevalence estimates of ASD, compared health care
experiences of children with ASD to other children, and examined factors associated with
increased likelihood of medication and behavioral treatment.
RESULTS: Parents of an estimated 1.5 million US children aged 3 to 17 years (2.50%) reported
that their child had ever received an ASD diagnosis and currently had the condition.
Children with parent-reported ASD diagnosis were more likely to have greater health
care needs and difficulties accessing health care than children with other emotional or
behavioral disorders (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, behavioral or
conduct problems, depression, developmental delay, Down syndrome, intellectual disability,
learning disability, Tourette syndrome) and children without these conditions. Of children
with current ASD, 27% were taking medication for ASD-related symptoms, whereas 64%
received behavioral treatments in the last 12 months, with variations by sociodemographic
characteristics and co-occurring conditions.
CONCLUSIONS: The estimated prevalence of US children with a parent-reported ASD
diagnosis is now 1 in 40, with rates of ASD-specific treatment usage varying by children’s
sociodemographic and co-occurring conditions.