Lately, the CDC has reported that one in 68 children in America suffers from autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Starting from 2002 to 2010, the rate has increased from 6-15%. A new study has suggested that the rise could be due to reclassification of people with other disorders.

Under reclassification, children with other brain development issues are also being counted in autism category. Experts from Pennsylvania State University have affirmed that increase in number of autism cases could probably be due to reclassification.

Study’s lead researcher Santhosh Girirajan along with the team has assessed the medical data of almost 6.2 million children who participated in special education programs between 2000 and 2010. The researchers came to know that the number of children diagnosed with autism increased by more than three-fold.

Girirajan affirmed, “For quite some time, researchers have been struggling to sort disorders into categories based on observable clinical features, but it gets complicated with autism because every individual can show a different combination of features”.

He said that the most difficult part is how to handle people who have multiple diagnoses. Main problem is features that define autism are found in people having other cognitive or neurological deficits. The researchers said around 65% of the rise can be said due to reclassification of children from intellectual disability to autism.