B4 - Clinicians - after WI

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Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network (ADDM)

Tracking Autism and Developmental Disabilities
in Wisconsin: What Clinicians Need to Know

The Wisconsin Surveillance of Autism and other
Developmental Disabilities System (WISADDS)
is 1 of 12 sites participating in a program that
monitors the number and characteristics of
children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
and other developmental disabilities.
The tracking system relies on multiple sources of
data to measure prevalence and collect information
on characteristics and risk factors for ASD, including:
• Age of identification of ASD
• Relationship between parental
age and ASD risk
• Socioeconomic disparities in the
prevalence of ASD

Clinicians:
Use this valuable information to raise
awareness of ASD, plan for services,
and promote early identification.
You can also access education and
training through WISADDS to help
recognize and diagnose early signs of
ASD and other developmental disabilities.

WISADDS is working to promote early
identification of ASD.

Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network (ADDM)
Tracking Autism and Developmental Disabilities in Wisconsin:
What Clinicians Need to Know

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Autism Spectrum Disorders:
How prevalent are they in Wisconsin?
WISADDS completed the latest tracking of ASD in Wisconsin
in 2008. The monitored area included 10 counties and
34,451 children 8 years old. Here’s what the project found.

Out of 34,451 children 8 years old:

Prevalence
Among the 8-year-old children in the monitored area:
• The project identified 267 children with ASD.
• The total prevalence was 7.8 per 1,000.

Sex
The project found ASD to be more prevalent in
8-year-old boys than in girls.
• For boys, the prevalence was 11.7 per 1,000.
• For girls, the prevalence was 3.7 per 1,000.

Race / Ethnicity
The project found ASD to be most common among
8-year-old white children, as compared to black and
Hispanic children.
• For white children, the prevalence was 8.6 per 1,000.
• For black children, the prevalence was 5.0 per 1,000.
• For Hispanic children, the prevalence was 3.8 per 1,000.

This means that 1 in 129 of the
8-year-old children in the area
has ASD.

This means that among 8 year
olds, 1 in every 85 boys in the
project area has ASD, compared
to 1 in every 270 girls.

This means that among 8-year-old
children in the area monitored,
1 in every 116 white children has
ASD, compared to 1 in every 200
black children and 1 in every 263
Hispanic children.

Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network (ADDM)
Tracking Autism and Developmental Disabilities in Wisconsin:
What Clinicians Need to Know

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Diagnosis
Of the 267 children identified with ASD,
83% had a diagnosis in their records.
The median earliest age of diagnosis
was 4 years, 5 months.
The median earliest age of diagnosis for specific
disorders was:
• Autistic disorder: 3 years, 10 months
WISADDS is a collaboration between
the Wisconsin Department of Health
Services and researchers from the
Waisman Center and Department
of Population Health Sciences at
University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Find articles we’ve authored at
http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/
wisadds/publications.php/.
For more information,
please contact:
Maureen Durkin, PhD, DrPH
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Waisman Center
1500 Highland Ave, Room S101E
Madison, Wisconsin 53705
(608) 263-2128
[email protected]

• ASD/pervasive development disorder
(PDD): 4 years, 4 months
• Asperger disorder: 6 years, 2 months

Overall ASD Prevalence in Children
12
10
Prevalence per 1,000

Learn More About WISADDS:

8
6
4

National
(All ADDM sites)

Wisconsin
(WISADDS survey)

2
0

2002 2006 2010

Survey Year
This graph compares national ASD rates to ASD rates in Wisconsin.

Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network (ADDM)
Tracking Autism and Developmental Disabilities in Wisconsin:
What Clinicians Need to Know

Site Information

Find Resources in Wisconsin:

These 10 Wisconsin counties were included in the 2008
project: Dane, Green, Jefferson, Kenosha, Milwaukee,
Ozaukee, Racine, Rock, Walworth, and Waukesha.
The racial or ethnic identification of the 8-year-old children
in the area monitored (a total of 34,451 children) was:

White: 65.2%
Black: 16.9%
Hispanic: 13.7%
Asian or Pacific Islander: 3.7%

Where Can I Get Training
and Education on ASD?
WISADDS sponsors workshops and trainings in
southeastern Wisconsin to help healthcare providers
identify developmental disabilities early on.
We also want to spread the word about standardized
diagnostic practices related to ASDs.
These include:

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• Childhood autism
• Asperger syndrome
• Atypical autism
• PDD not otherwise specified

Find a listing of trainings on our website at
http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/wisadds/.

Learn the Signs. Act Early. is a CDC
campaign to raise awareness about
developmental milestones and the
importance of screening and early
intervention. Visit www.ActEarly.wisc.edu
for more information.
Wisconsin Regional Centers for
Children and Youth with Special
Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) provides
training related to early identification,
autism, developmental screening, and
community-based resources. To find out
what’s available in your area, visit www.
dhs.wisconsin.gov/health/children/
overview/index.htm.
Finding Your Way: A Navigation Guide
for Wisconsin Families Who Have
Children and Youth with Special Health
Care Needs and Disabilities has brief
descriptions of programs, services, and
systems of support available to families
Wisconsin. You can download the booklet
at http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/cedd/
pdfs/products/community/FYW_e.pdf/.
Wisconsin First Step is a 24-hour
hotline and searchable online database
for families and healthcare providers who
support children and youth with special
needs. Call 1-800-642-7837 or visit
www.mch-hotlines.org.
The Autism Society of Wisconsin has
many resources for individuals, families,
and professionals affected by autism.
To find out more or locate your local
chapter, visit www.asw4autism.org
or call 1-888-4-AUTISM.