CDC reports: Approximately 10% of U.S. children diagnosed with a developmental disability

In 2021, the number of American children diagnosed with developmental disabilities has increased once again. According to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1 in 10 boys have been diagnosed with an intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, or another developmental delay.

The latest results from the CDC’s National Health Interview Survey show that 8.56% of children between the ages of 3 and 17 have been diagnosed with a developmental disability. Benjamin Zablotsky, a statistician for the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics and lead author of the report, stated that understanding the prevalence of these conditions is important for ensuring adequate services are available for families and children in need.

A previous report analyzing trends from 2009 to 2017 found that the increase in developmental disabilities was largely driven by more diagnoses of ADHD, autism, and intellectual disability. This latest report is the first since then to focus specifically on this topic.

From 2019 to 2021, there was no statistically significant increase in the rates of intellectual disability or autism spectrum disorder. The report found that 1.65% of children had an intellectual disability and 3.05% had autism. However, there was a significant increase in parents reporting that their child had an “other developmental delay,” which can include conditions like cerebral palsy or language disorders. This group increased from 5.08% of children in 2019 to 6.06% in 2021.

Zablotsky noted that developmental delays can sometimes be temporary diagnoses that later evolve into conditions like autism or intellectual disability. However, many children also age out of these delays. The survey effort has dropped questions that focus on the prevalence of less common conditions in order to maintain reliable estimates.

In terms of gender, developmental disabilities remain more prevalent in boys, with 10.76% being diagnosed compared to 5.31% of girls. Asian children had the lowest rates of diagnosis at 4.85%, while there were no significant differences between Hispanic, Black, and White children.

A Positive Trend?

The rates of developmental disabilities in American children have been increasing for years, mirroring trends seen in other countries that are diagnosing more children with delays. Maureen Durkin, chair of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Department of Population Health Sciences, sees this as a potential sign of progress. While it indicates improvements in diagnosing children and helping them live longer, Durkin emphasizes the need for further efforts to prevent disability and improve outcomes overall.

Durkin points to increases in life expectancy for children with conditions like Down syndrome, as well as advancements in care for newborns, as positive developments. Services, outreach, and universal screening efforts by doctors and health authorities have also contributed to early intervention for developmental delays.

The report also highlights a change in the highest rates of autism diagnoses among different racial and ethnic groups. White children no longer have the highest rates, with rates now highest in Black children. Durkin, who is a primary investigator for the CDC’s Autism Disabilities Monitoring Network in Wisconsin, notes a significant shift in this disparity that has persisted for many years.

Durkin acknowledges that poorer and disadvantaged communities face a range of risk factors for developmental disabilities, such as preterm birth and lead poisoning. She believes that the higher prevalence in these communities indicates the need for preventive measures. However, she also suggests that there was previously under-identification of autism, which may have contributed to the previous disparity in rates among different racial and ethnic groups.