A Snapshot of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Tennessee

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Findings from the Tennessee Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network (TN-ADDM) help us understand more about the number of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the characteristics of those children and the age at which they are first evaluated and diagnosed.

SITE TRACKING AREA

What are the key take-away messages from TN-ADDM?

• There are many children living with ASD who need services and support. The number of 8-year-old children identified with ASD in the area covered by TN-ADDM increased from 2.3% (1 in 44) in 2018 to 2.8% (1 in 36) in 2020.
• Although an increasing number of children with ASD in Tennessee (44% of 8-year-olds; 67% of 4-year-olds) are initially evaluated prior to 3 years of age, many children are still diagnosed at later ages (median age of diagnosis was 48 months of age among 8-year-old children with ASD).
• About 1 in 36 (or 2.8%) of 4-year-old children were identified with ASD by TN-ADDM in 2020.
• In Tennessee, Black children and Hispanic children were more likely to be identified with ASD by age 4 years than were White children. This may reflect improved service and advocacy efforts targeting traditionally underserved communities.
• The increasing number of children identified with ASD in Tennessee may be tied to complex factors related to awareness and capacity for service.

How can this information be useful?

TN-ADDM’s findings can be used to:

• Inform policies that promote earlier identification of ASD.
• Plan for ASD services and training across the lifespan.
• Increase awareness of ASD among traditionally underserved families.

Partners in Tennessee might consider different ways to:

• Continue to lower the age of first evaluation by community providers.
• Increase awareness of need for services and intervention opportunities for the growing number of Black and Hispanic children identified with ASD.
• Work to identify opportunities and address barriers to build capacity for systems of care that promote equitable and accessible screening, services, and supports for all children.

How and where was this information collected?

TN-ADDM uses a record review method. Specifically, this information is based on the analysis of data collected from the health and special education records of children who were 4 years old and 8 years old and living in one of 11 counties in Middle Tennessee in 2020.

Tracking area
Bedford, Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Marshall, Maury, Montgomery, Rutherford, Robertson, Williamson, and Wilson counties

8-year-old children in tracking area: 25,588

• 60% White
• 17% Black
• 13% Hispanic
• 5% Multiracial
• 3% Asian or Pacific Islander
• <1% American Indian or Alaska Native

4-year-old children in tracking area: 26,474

• 60% White
• 17% Black
• 14% Hispanic
• 6% Multiracial
• 3% Asian or Pacific Islander
• <1% American Indian or Alaska Native

*Estimates may not sum to 100% due to rounding.

Resources

VANDERBILT KENNEDY CENTER (VKC)
https://vkc.vumc.org/vkc

TREATMENT AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (TRIAD)
https://vkc.vumc.org/vkc/triad/home

TENNESSEE DISABILITY PATHFINDER
1-800-640-4636
https://www.tnpathfinder.org

TENNESSEE EARLY INTERVENTION SYSTEM
1-800-852-7157
www.tn.gov/didd/for-consumers/tennessee-early-intervention-system-teis.html

AUTISM TENNESSEE
615-385-2077
https://autismtennessee.wildapricot.org/

CDC’S LEARN THE SIGNS. ACT EARLY.
Toni Whitaker, MD Tennessee’s Act Early Ambassador
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/ambassadors-list.html

CONNECT WITH TN-ADDM
Zachary Warren, PhD
VKC/TRIAD
110 Magnolia Circle
Nashville, TN 37203
1-877-ASD-VUMC
autismresources@vanderbilt.edu