Alarming Rates of Autism in Children of U.S. Military Members
Children in U.S. military families are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at higher rates than children in civilian families, according to a new preprint study by scientists at Children’s Health Defense (CHD).
CHD scientists Karl Jablonowski, Ph.D., and Brian Hooker, Ph.D., examined nearly eight years of data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s National Survey of Children’s Health.
Children insured by Tricare whose parents both served and were active duty in the U.S. military were 63% more likely to be on the autism spectrum than children of non-military members.
The data showed children of mothers with any military service were 46% more likely to be diagnosed with ASD than children whose mothers did not serve in the military.
Children of fathers with any service history were 43% more likely to have an ASD diagnosis than children of fathers with no military history.
For fathers, the data showed a clear gradient: the likelihood of ASD was lowest among children of non-military fathers and highest among children whose fathers were deployed while on active duty.
“The signal for autism in children of U.S. military service personnel has lain undetected in census bureau data for many years. The men and women who serve in our military deserve better,” Jablonowski told The Defender.
“Though there are several explanations for the results of this analysis, child exposure to toxins, either directly or through their parents, cannot be ignored and must be investigated with all due haste,” stated Karl Jablonowski, Ph.D. and Brian Hooker, Ph.D. in their preprint study.
Watch Karl Jablonowski, Ph.D., break down the alarming data at Science Unleashed 2026, hosted by CHDAZ: rumble.com/v7c5ux8-autism
View Karl Jablonowski’s presentation slides from Science Unleashed 2026 by clicking HERE.
Read the Defender article: https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/autism-spectrum-disorder-us-military-kids-higher-rates-chd-study