To study the national prevalence of ten developmental disabilities in US children
aged 3–17 years and explore changes over time by associated demographic and socioeconomic
characteristics using the 2009–2017 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Data
come from the NHIS, a nationally-representative survey of the civilian noninstitutionalized
population. Parents reported physician or other health care professional diagnoses
of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); autism spectrum disorder (ASD);
blindness; cerebral palsy; moderate to profound hearing loss; learning disability
(LD); intellectual disability (ID); seizures; stuttering or stammering; and other
developmental delays. Weighted percentages for each of the selected developmental
disabilities and any developmental disability were calculated between 2009–2017 and
stratified by selected demographic/socioeconomic characteristics. From 2009–2011 to
2015–2017, there were overall significant increases in the prevalence of any developmental
disability (16.2% to 17.8%, p<.001), ADHD (8.5% to 9.5%, p <.01), ASD (1.1% to 2.5%,
p <.001), and ID (0.9% to 1.2%, p <.05), but a significant decrease for any other
developmental delay (4.7% to 4.1% , p <.05). The prevalence of any developmental disability
increased among boys, children ages 12–17, non-Hispanic white and Hispanic children,
children with private insurance only, and children with birthweights ≥2,500 grams.
An increase in prevalence of any developmental disability was also seen for children
living in urban areas and with less educated mothers. The prevalence of developmental
disability among US children aged 3–17 years increased between 2009–2017. Changes
by demographic and socioeconomic subgroups may be related to improvements in awareness
and access to health care. From the 2009–2017 NHIS, there was a 9.5% increase in the
prevalence of developmental disabilities among children aged 3–17.