According to new estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Center for Heath Statistics, the number of autism cases in the United States have sharply increased. However, researchers say that this jump is likely due to a change in the format of the questionnaire.

The Washington Post reports that the statistics show that cases of autism in children ages three to 17 increased 80 percent in 2014. Previously, the estimate showed that one in 64 children have autism. The new estimate suggests that one in 45 children have autism.

Experts believe that this may be due to the way parents previously reported their child’s conditions. Where in previous years a parent may have reported a developmental disability, rather than autism spectrum disorder. The number of developmental disabilities reported decreased in the recent estimate.

Increasing rates of autism in children has been a topic of debate in recent years. Some suggest there is an over diagnosis of the disorder, while others speculate on environmental factors that hinder brain development.

The majority of children diagnosed with autism are male, white, in large cities, with two parents, one of which have a parent with education beyond high school. Only 25 percent of autism diagnoses are female. The majority of children diagnosed with autism have co-occurring conditions such as a learning disability, ADD, and or ADHD.

Almost 60 percent of those diagnosed with autism receive special education or services to assist them. Experts believe that the new number is a more accurate representation of autism in the U.S.