LOS ANGELES, March 24 (Xinhua) -- About 1 in 36 children in the United States has been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to the latest data of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
ASD is a developmental disability characterized by persistent impairments in social interaction and the presence of restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviors, interests, or activities that can cause a wide array of difficulties in social interaction, communication, and participation in daily activities.
About 1 in 6 children aged 3 to 17 years were diagnosed with a developmental disability, as reported by parents, during a study period of 2009 to 2017, according to the CDC. These included autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, blindness, and cerebral palsy, among others.
ASD is more than 4 times more common among boys than among girls, said the CDC. ■