The number of autism cases in the United States has reached one in every 88 children, the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports. This is a 78 percent rise from ten years ago.

Autism is a developmental disorder that manifests itself in many ways. It is typically diagnosed in children between the ages of one and eight. Symptoms often -- but not always -- include slow language development, persistent fixations and difficulties with social interactions.

In part, the sharp increase in autism cases is due to the fact that awareness has grown, leading to more correct diagnoses. But it may also reflect an actual increase in the number of people affected by the disorder. "We're not quite sure the reasons for the increase," Coleen Boyle of the CDC, said to the Associated Press.

More research will determine what's really behind the data -- in the meantime, autism awareness advocacy groups are taking this opportunity to call attention to the disorder's prevalence in society.

"The CDC numbers are alarming, yet they don't begin to tell the story of the real families, real individuals struggling every day," said Mark Roithmayr, president of Autism Speaks, in a statement on the organization's website.

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Here are five facts about autism that shed light on the new research.

Diagnoses are not evenly spread across the board.

Autism is much more common in boys than in girls; a full five times as many males are affected by the disorder. In addition, certain states seem to have a preponderance of autism cases. The CDC study found that just one in 210 children in Alabama were affected, as opposed to 1 in 47 in Utah. And the biggest growth in diagnoses over the last few years was among black and Hispanic children. Of course, this may not suggest an actual difference between ethnicities or locations; it could be due instead to changes in medical practices in certain communities over the years.

The word 'autism' can mean many things.

Read more from the original source:
Autism On The Rise: 5 Key Facts About The New Research