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Trends in the prevalence of developmental disabilities in US children, 1997-2008

Coleen A Boyle1, Sheree Boulet, Laura A Schieve

  • 1National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. cboyle@cdc.gov

Pediatrics
|May 25, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Developmental disabilities affect about 1 in 6 US children, with autism and ADHD prevalence increasing. Boys and children from low-income families showed higher rates, highlighting needs for health and education services.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Developmental disabilities represent a significant public health concern, impacting children's health and educational trajectories.
  • Accurate prevalence data is essential for effective health and educational planning and resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of various developmental disabilities in US children over a 12-year period.
  • To identify demographic and socioeconomic disparities in developmental disability prevalence.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the National Health Interview Surveys (1997-2008) for children aged 3-17 years.
  • Included parent-reported diagnoses of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, autism, seizures, stuttering, hearing loss, blindness, learning disorders, and developmental delays.

Main Results:

  • Overall prevalence of developmental disabilities increased from 12.84% to 15.04% between 1997 and 2008.
  • Boys and children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds exhibited higher prevalence rates.
  • Increases were noted in autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and other developmental delays, while hearing loss declined.

Conclusions:

  • Approximately 1 in 6 US children had a developmental disability in 2006-2008.
  • The rising prevalence of certain developmental disabilities necessitates enhanced health and educational support systems.
  • Further research is needed on risk factors, societal acceptance, and early intervention benefits.
Abstract

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