In a new study published in Octobers edition of the publication Pediatrics it was suggested that the numbers of autism is much higher than previously thought.

Autism spectrum disorders are a group of neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism, Asperger, and pervasive developmental disorder. Symptoms including poor social interaction, difficulty with communication and repetitive behaviors.

The new study indicates that 110 of every 10,000 U.S.children will be diagnosed with autism. That translates to about 673,000 American children with the condition. While previously researchers thought the numbers were about 1 in 150 the new study suggests it’s a much higher number up to 1 in 91 meaning a long road ahead for these children and parents with estimated lifetime health care costs being around $1.5 million.

“I think this is a very important study that says the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders may be even higher than we suspected previously,” said Geraldine Dawson, chief scientific officer of Autism Speaks.

“Autism is a major public health challenge, and this study is another call to action that we need to be able to provide care across the lifespan,” she said.

The study also showed that autism diagnoses caseses  were four times higher for boys than girls, and that non-Hispanic black and multiracial children were less likely to have an autism disorder than white children with little evidence as to why.

“This is more data that adds to what’s already in existence that shows autism spectrum disorders are common,” Johnson said.

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