China's Researchers at Guangdong Pharmaceutical University discovered that 3.49% of American children or teens – roughly 1-in-30 kids – had been diagnosed with autism by 2020, the Daily Mail reported.
Notably, U.S. and Europe have higher rates of autism because of better medical care and more prevalent medical diagnostics of the condition, according to the report. Only 2.2% of American children had autism in 2017, and the study proposed better surveillance and diagnosis of the condition in 2016.
The demographics of autism in the U.S. show boys (5%) more likely to be diagnosed than girls (2%), along with poorer children and Black kids, the study discovered using data from the annual National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).
FROM CONTROVERSY TO COMPASSION: DANIEL SNYDER'S JAW-DROPPING GIFT LEAVES NATION IN AWE
People with autism have difficulty with social, emotional, and communication skills, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to the CDC, some of the signs of autism could include: Notable reactions to smell, taste, look, feel or sound.
WATCH: RFK JR. WILL REVERSE 80 YEARS OF FARM POLICY
Hardship adapting to changes in routine. They are unable to repeat or echo what is said to them.
JAMES CARVILLE'S CONTROVERSIAL CRITIQUE: IS WOKE CULTURE KILLING DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT?
Difficulty communicating desires using words or motions. They are unable to discuss their feelings or other people's. Difficulty with acts of affection like hugging.
FROM CONTROVERSY TO COMPASSION: DANIEL SNYDER'S JAW-DROPPING GIFT LEAVES NATION IN AWE
Prefer to be alone and avoid eye contact. Difficulty relating to other people.
Unable to point at or look at objects when others point to them. Experts have cautioned older parents about pollution exposure. At the same time, in the womb and a mother who was obese throughout pregnancy are all at higher risk for having a child with autism, according to the report.
INTRUDER SLIPS PAST TSA, BOARDS DELTA PLANE, IN EPIC SECURITY FAILURE
Furthermore, in 2020, University of Ottawa researchers found pregnant women who used cannabis were 1.5 times more likely to have a child with autism than women who did not. U.S. lawmakers have been actively pushing to legalize marijuana in many states over the past decade.
WATCH: ATF IS SET TO CRIMINALIZE 10 MILLION AMERICANS
There is no one definitive test for ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), which further sometimes makes diagnosing it hard. Doctors need to look at a child’s developmental and behavioral history to assess whether or not a child or teen has ASD. There are a variety of symptoms and signs linked to ASD, like avoiding eye contact, misunderstanding emotional cues, and obsessive behaviors or interests, to name a few.
While the study itself did not speculate about the potential causes for such a spike, experts think the increase is linked to greater awareness of ASD in both the medical and general communities. With better screening tools and the inclusion of cases with milder symptoms, it is natural that more children would be diagnosed.
OHIO MAN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR THREATENING ARIZONA GOVERNOR KATIE HOBBS, DETAILS RELEASED
The CDC further states that diagnosing kids “as early as possible” will “make sure children receive the services and supports they need to reach their full potential.” Parents who suspect their child might have autism can get a diagnosis at as early of the age of 18 months.
TECH DIVORCE DRAMA TAKES A POLITICAL TWIST: RFK JR. TEAMS UP WITH SILICON VALLEY'S EX
Social stigma surrounding autism has also lessened, and many parents are much more willing to get their child screened without fear of negative social repercussions.
Some specialists do caution that some negative effects being suffered by children in the womb put them at higher risk, though. Experts caution that older parents, exposure to pollution while in the womb and even a mother that is obese throughout pregnancy could be tied to an increased likelihood of developing autism.