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One in 88 kids in the US, and one in 54 boys, now has
autism. The Center for Disease Control says that’s a 23
percent jump in the last five years.

And while doctors don’t know why there’s been such an
increase, they say it shows the need for more research and
services.

Doctors and advocacy groups say it’s a public health
emergency that needs more attention.

Dr. Bryan King, the director of the Autism Center at
Seattle Children’s, says they’ve got a waiting list for
families concerned with Autism.

“We’ve seen upwards of 3,500 families. We’re anticipating
that we will have about 17,000 outpatient visits this year
and we have well over 1,000 families that are on a waiting
list.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report
issued Thursday found that 40 percent of kids weren’t
diagnosed until after age 4. Evidence shows that children
who are identified early and get help have the best chance
for reaching their potential, said CDC Director Dr. Thomas
Frieden.

“It’s criminal to be telling families on the one hand that
you need that diagnosis as early as possible so you can
initiate appropriate treatment but then in the same breath
saying the earliest we can get you in to establish that
diagnosis is 3, 4, 6 months from now,” said King.

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.

Autism’s cause remains a mystery, and government
researchers are seeking answers.

CDC officials say research into causes of autism will help
determine if there’s been a true increase or just better
diagnosis.

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that
autism costs the U.S. about $137 billion a year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.