Incidence of developmental disorders and special educational needs and disabilities in children in the UK

To investigate the incidence of developmental disorders (including cerebral palsy, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and autism spectrum disorder) and special educational needs provision and to explore associations with gestational age and ethnicity.

Cumulative incidence of developmental disorders and special educational needs provision up to age 12 years/end of school year 7 respectively was explored using multivariable logistic regression in the Born in Bradford cohort, UK. Incidence rates of individual developmental disorders were calculated.

There were 13 172 children included in the analysis cohort. Birth before full term was associated with increased odds of developmental disorder compared with birth at full term: adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for those born before 34 weeks 2.22 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.58-3.12); 34 to 36 weeks aOR 1.43 (95% CI 1.12-1.81); 37 to 38 weeks aOR 1.18 (95% CI 1.03-1.34). Effect sizes were larger among Pakistani heritage children: aOR for those born before 34 weeks 2.59 (95% CI 1.55-4.33); 34 to 36 weeks aOR 1.57 (95% CI 1.08-2.27); 37 to 38 weeks aOR 1.29 (95% CI 1.06-1.56). Unadjusted incidence rates of developmental disorders varied with ethnicity; compared with Pakistani heritage children, White British children had higher rates (per 1000 person-years) of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (1.8, 95% CI 1.5-2.1 vs. 0.3, 95% CI 0.2-0.4), and lower incidences of learning disabilities (0.7, 95% CI 0.5-1.0 vs. 1.6, 95% CI 1.4-1.9).

Irrespective of ethnicity, children born before full term are at increased risk of developmental disorders and/or special educational needs.