Among Both Sexes, Ages 3-17, 8.56% Have Been Diagnosed with a Developmental Disability
A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report shows that the percentage of American children who have been diagnosed with a developmental disability has increased, with now more than 1 in 10 boys having an intellectual disability (ID), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or another developmental delay. Based on data from the National Health Interview Survey compiled between 2019 and 2021 for children ages 3-17, the report found that the rates of ID and ASD did not increase significantly, but parents who have been told that their child had an “other developmental delay” increased considerably. “Other developmental delay” includes a range of issues such as cerebral palsy or struggles forming words. This group’s rate increased from 5.08% of kids in 2019 to 6.06% in 2021. The report also determined that among both sexes, 8.56% have been diagnosed with any developmental disability. Additionally, the report found 1.65% of children had an intellectual disability, while 3.05% had autism (4.66% boys, 1.5% girls). Rates of developmental disabilities remained significantly lower in girls, and Asian children were the least likely to be diagnosed with any developmental disability. Interestingly, this report did not find Black and Hispanic children more likely to be diagnosed with ASD compared to White children, unlike recent reports.
