How many people have autism?

The original estimates of the prevalence of autism indicated that it occurred in around 2 per 10,000 people. However, recent estimates place the prevalence as high as or higher than 1 in 59 children in the United States for all autism spectrum disorders combined according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  The prevalence of autism in the UAE is assumed to be similar to the U.S., although there is not yet a comprehensive prevalence analysis.  It is likely that the increased prevalence of autism in the U.S. is due to increased awareness of the disorder by the community as well as by physicians and other service providers as well as better diagnostic tools that more accurately cover the entire autism spectrum. There is some evidence that intellectual disabilities diagnoses are being given as a primary diagnosis less often than in the past. The increased prevalence of autism coincides with this decrease. However, a true increase in the prevalence of autism across time is certainly possible.