Prevalence and Characteristics of Developmental Disabilities Among Children Who Receive Hearing Health Care

We aim to determine the prevalence and characteristics of developmental disabilities among the clinical population of children who receive hearing health care in the United States.

Using electronic health records of 131,709 children (0-18 years), we identified those with a diagnosis of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, vision differences, cerebral palsy, chromosomal abnormalities, delayed milestones, Down syndrome, or intellectual disability. We determined prevalence, age of first audiology encounter, age of diagnosis for the developmental disability, and hearing status based on the specific disability and the number of diagnoses. Binomial and multinomial logistic regressions were performed.

One in four children had a diagnosed developmental disability. The most common disabilities were delayed milestones (11.3%), vision differences (7.4%), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (6.6%), and autism spectrum disorder (6.2%). Half of the children with developmental disabilities had at least one diagnosis before their first audiology encounter. Children with developmental disabilities were more likely to have a reduced hearing or an unknown hearing status than children without developmental diagnoses. For children with reduced hearing, those with developmental disabilities had higher rates of bilateral configurations and poorer hearing severity levels.

Developmental disabilities are common among children who seek hearing health care. Moreover, developmental disabilities often co-occur with reduced hearing. Further research and advocacy efforts are critical for creating clinical practices that are inclusive of, and equitable for, children with complex and diverse developmental profiles.

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.27857847.