The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder was higher in 2014 than in 2010 among children aged 4 years, according to CDC data from the Early Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network.

“Measuring ASD prevalence and age at diagnosis in elementary school-aged children is expected to yield the most complete information on ASD prevalence and characteristics; however, measuring ASD prevalence in preschool-aged children provides more timely assessment of efforts to increase awareness and early detection of ASD,” Deborah L. Christensen, PhD, from the CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, and colleagues wrote in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.