title: Prevalence of cerebral palsy, co-occurring autism spectrum disorders, and motor functioning - Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, USA, 2008.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to report the prevalence and characteristics of children with cerebral palsy (CP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Children with CP (n=451) were ascertained by the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, a population-based, record-review surveillance system monitoring CP in four areas of the USA. Prevalence was calculated as the number of children with CP among all 8-year-old children residing in these areas in 2008. Motor function was categorized by Gross Motor Function Classification System level and walking ability. Co-occurring autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and epilepsy were ascertained using ADDM Network surveillance methodology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The period prevalence of CP for 2008 was 3.1 per 1000 8-year-old children (95% confidence interval 2.8-3.4). Approximately 58% of children walked independently. Co-occurring ASD frequency was 6.9% and was higher (18.4%) among children with non-spastic CP, particularly hypotonic CP. Co-occurring epilepsy frequency was 41% overall, did not differ by ASD status or CP subtype, and was highest (67%) among children with limited or no walking ability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of CP in childhood from US surveillance data has remained relatively constant, in the range of 3.1 to 3.6 per 1000, since 1996. The higher frequency of ASD in non-spastic than in spastic subtypes of CP calls for closer examination.
authors.affiliation: Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Van Naarden Braun
authors.forename: Nancy S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Doernberg
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Maenner
authors.forename: Carrie L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Arneson
authors.forename: Maureen S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Durkin
authors.forename: Ruth E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Benedict
authors.forename: Russell S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Kirby
authors.forename: Martha S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Wingate
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: Marshalyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yeargin-Allsopp
mesh_terms: D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009128:Muscle Spasticity; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012042:Registries; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016138:Walking