Developmental Disabilities in the United States

Zablotsky and colleagues (2023) sought to determine prevalence estimates of the diagnosis of children (aged 3–17 years) with developmental disabilities in the United States. These authors analyzed data from the 2019–2021 National Health Interview Survey. A child was considered to have a developmental disability if they had a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and/or other developmental delay.

Over the course of the three years, the prevalence of a child having any of the disabilities increased. The prevalence of a child having a diagnosis of other development delay also increased, while no significant changes were noted regarding autism spectrum disorder or intellectual disability.

The prevalence of having a diagnosis of any of the developmental disabilities was significantly greater in male versus females, while prevalence was the lowest in children who identified as Non-Hispanic Asian as compared to the other racial/Hispanic-origin groups analyzed. Prevalence across age groups was similar.

Zablotsky and colleagues (2023) also evaluated the relationship of sex, age, and race/Hispanic origin on the three types of developmental disability diagnoses separately. Interested readers may access the full report in the reference below.

Reference

Zablotsky B, Ng AE, Black LI, Blumberg SJ. (2023) Diagnosed developmental disabilities in children aged 3–17 years: United States, 2019–2021. NCHS Data Brief, no 473. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics.