One in 88 U.S. girls thought to be autistic , CDC estimates ; for boys it 's one in 54 . Why ? Better , broader diagnosis , better awareness , and ` ` 50 % of ' We do n't know , '' expert says . Mark Roithmayr , president of the advocacy group Autism Speaks , says more children are being diagnosed with autism because of `` better diagnosis , broader diagnosis , better awareness , and roughly 50 % of 'We do n't know . ' '' 2008 : There is an epidemic of autism in the United States . Autistic teen Frankie Williams shows signs of early detection .
One in 88 U.S. girls thought to be autistic , CDC estimates ; for boys it 's one in 54 . Why ? Better , broader diagnosis , better awareness , and ` ` 50 % of ' We do n't know , '' expert says . 2008 : There is an epidemic of autism in the United States . Autistic teen Frankie Williams shows signs of early detection .