Survey shows one in 50 U.S. schoolchildren has autism

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WITI) -- A government survey of parents says one in 50 U.S. schoolchildren has autism -- compared with one in 88 in a study from five years ago.

Health officials say the new number doesn't mean autism is occurring more often, but it does suggest that doctors are diagnosing autism more frequently, especially in children with milder problems.

The new estimate released Wednesday, March 20th by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would mean at least one million children have autism.

The new statistic comes from a national phone survey of more than 95,000 parents in 2011 and 2012.