NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 291 ■ November 2017
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Health Statistics
Estimated Prevalence of Children With Diagnosed
Developmental Disabilities in the United States, 2014–2016
Benjamin Zablotsky, Ph.D., Lindsey I. Black, M.P.H., and Stephen J. Blumberg, Ph.D.
Key findings
Data from the National
Health Interview Survey
● During 2014–2016, the
prevalence of children
aged 3–17 years who had
ever been diagnosed with
a developmental disability
increased from 5.76% to
6.99%.
● During this same time,
the prevalence of diagnosed
autism spectrum disorder and
intellectual disability did not
change significantly.
● The prevalence of autism
spectrum disorder, intellectual
disability, other developmental
delay, and any developmental
disability was higher among
boys compared with girls.
● The prevalence of any
developmental disability was
lower among Hispanic children
compared with children in all
other race and ethnicity groups.
Developmental disabilities are a set of heterogeneous disorders characterized
by difficulties in one or more domains, including but not limited to, learning,
behavior, and self-care. This report provides the latest prevalence estimates
for diagnosed autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and other
developmental delay among children aged 3–17 years from the 2014–2016
National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Estimates are also presented for
any developmental disability, defined as having had one or more of these three
diagnoses. Prevalence estimates are based on parent or guardian report of ever
receiving a diagnosis of each developmental disability from a doctor or other
health care professional.
Keywords: autism spectrum disorder • National Health Interview Survey
The prevalence of children diagnosed with any
developmental disability increased from 2014 to 2016.
Figure 1. Prevalence of children aged 3–17 years ever diagnosed with selected developmental
disabilites, by year: United States, 2014–2016
1Linear increase from 2014 to 2016 is statistically significant (p < 0.05).
NOTES: Developmental disability includes autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and any other developmental delay.
Access data table for Figure 1 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db291_table.pdf#1.
SOURCE: NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, 2014–2016.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 291 ■ November 2017
■ 2 ■
● During 2014–2016, the prevalence of children ever diagnosed with any developmental
disability significantly increased, from 5.76% in 2014 to 6.99% in 2016 (Figure 1).
● The prevalence of children ever diagnosed with a developmental delay other than autism
spectrum disorder or intellectual disability increased, from 3.57% in 2014 to 4.55% in 2016.
● There was not a statistically significant change in the prevalence of children ever diagnosed
with autism spectrum disorder from 2014 to 2016.
● The prevalence of children ever diagnosed with intellectual disability did not significantly
change from 2014 to 2016.
A higher percentage of boys have been diagnosed with autism spectrum
disorder compared with girls.
● During 2014–2016, the prevalence of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder was
higher among boys (3.63%) than girls (1.25%) (Figure 2).
● Non-Hispanic white children (2.76%) were more likely to have been diagnosed with autism
spectrum disorder than Hispanic children (1.82%).
● Children aged 8–12 years (2.88%) were more likely to have been diagnosed with autism
spectrum disorder than children aged 3–7 years (2.23%).
Figure 2. Prevalence of children aged 3–17 years ever diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, by sex, age, and race
and ethnicity: United States, 2014–2016
1Significantly different from girls (p < 0.05).
2Significantly different from children aged 3–7 years (p < 0.05).
3Significantly different from Hispanic children (p < 0.05).
NOTE: Access data table for Figure 2 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db291_table.pdf#2.
SOURCE: NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, 2014–2016.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 291 ■ November 2017
■ 3 ■
● The difference in the prevalence of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder
between the ages of 8–12 (2.88%) and 13–17 (2.30%) years was not statistically significant
(p = 0.06).
The prevalence of diagnosed intellectual disability was higher among boys
than girls.
● During 2014–2016, the prevalence of children ever diagnosed with intellectual disability
was 1.48% among boys and 0.90% among girls (Figure 3).
● The prevalence of intellectual disability was lower among younger children than older
children: 0.73% among children aged 3–7 years, 1.45% among children aged 8–12 years,
and 1.40% among children aged 13–17 years.
● The prevalence of children diagnosed with intellectual disability did not differ significantly
by race and Hispanic ethnicity.
● The difference in the prevalence of intellectual disability between non-Hispanic black
children (1.53%) and non-Hispanic other children (0.86%) was not statistically significant
(p = 0.21).
Figure 3. Prevalence of children aged 3–17 years ever diagnosed with intellectual disability, by sex, age, and race and
ethnicity: United States, 2014–2016
1Significantly different from girls (p < 0.05).
2Significantly different from children aged 3–7 years (p < 0.05).
NOTE: Access data table for Figure 3 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db291_table.pdf#3.
SOURCE: NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, 2014–2016.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 291 ■ November 2017
■ 4 ■
The prevalence of children ever diagnosed with developmental delay other
than autism spectrum disorder or intellectual disability was lowest among
older children.
● The prevalence of other developmental delay was higher among boys (4.77%) than girls
(2.98%) (Figure 4).
● During 2014–2016, children aged 3–7 (4.37%) and 8–12 (4.24%) years had a higher
prevalence of other developmental delay compared with children aged 13–17 years (3.08%).
● Non-Hispanic white children (4.43%) had a higher prevalence of other developmental delay
compared with Hispanic children (2.98%).
Figure 4. Prevalence of children aged 3–17 years ever diagnosed with other developmental delay, by sex, age, and race
and ethnicity: United States, 2014–2016
1Significantly different from girls (p < 0.05).
2Significantly different from children aged 13–17 years (p < 0.05).
3Significantly different from Hispanic children (p < 0.05).
NOTE: Access data table for Figure 4 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db291_table.pdf#4.
SOURCE: NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, 2014–2016.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 291 ■ November 2017
■ 5 ■
The prevalence of developmental disabilities was lowest among Hispanic
children.
● The prevalence of developmental disabilities was higher among boys (8.15%) than girls
(4.29%) (Figure 5).
● Children aged 13–17 years (5.76%) were less likely to have been diagnosed with any
developmental disability than children aged 8–12 years (6.87%).
● During 2014–2016, Hispanic children (4.69%) were less likely to have been diagnosed with
any developmental disability compared with non-Hispanic white children (7.04%),
non-Hispanic black children (6.20%), and non-Hispanic other children (6.16%).
Figure 5. Prevalence of children aged 3–17 years ever diagnosed with any developmental disability, by sex, age, and race
and ethnicity: United States, 2014–2016
1Significantly different from girls (p < 0.05).
2Significantly different from children aged 8–12 years (p < 0.05).
3Significantly different from Hispanic children (p < 0.05).
NOTE: Access data table for Figure 5 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db291_table.pdf#5.
SOURCE: NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, 2014–2016.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 291 ■ November 2017
■ 6 ■
Summary
During 2014–2016, there was a significant increase in the prevalence of children who had ever
been diagnosed with any developmental disability. This increase was largely the result of an
increase in the prevalence of children diagnosed with a developmental delay other than autism
spectrum disorder or intellectual disability. There was not a significant change in the prevalence
of diagnosed autism spectrum disorder or intellectual disability over the same time period.
The prevalence of developmental disabilities described in this report is lower than findings
described in previous reports using NHIS data (1). This report uses a more restrictive definition
for a developmental disability that does not include conditions such as attention-deficit/
hyperactivity disorder or learning disabilities, which may account for differences in estimates. A
similar definition was used in a 2015 National Health Statistics Report (2).
For each condition examined, the prevalence was significantly higher among boys than girls, a
finding common among children diagnosed with a developmental disability (1,3). The prevalence
of any developmental disability diagnosis was lowest among Hispanic children compared with all
other race and ethnicity groups; racial and ethnic disparities in the prevalence of developmental
disabilities are findings commonly reported in the scientific literature (1,4). Prevalence among age
groups varied by condition, which may reflect recent improvements in awareness and screening
for developmental delay, resulting in younger cohorts having a higher diagnosed prevalence (4).
However, for some children with less severe impairment, developmental disabilities, such as
autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability, may not be diagnosed until the child enters
school and is observed by trained teachers (5).
Definitions
Diagnosed intellectual disability: Based on a positive response to the survey question, “Has a
doctor or health professional ever told you that [sample child] had an intellectual disability, also
known as mental retardation?”
Diagnosed autism spectrum disorder: Based on a positive response to the survey question, “Has
a doctor or health professional ever told you that [sample child] had Autism, Asperger’s disorder,
pervasive developmental disorder, or autism spectrum disorder?”
Diagnosed other developmental delay: Based on a positive response to the survey question, “Has
a doctor or health professional ever told you that [sample child] had any other developmental
delay?”
Diagnosed developmental disability: A composite measure of children with a diagnosis of autism
spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, or any other developmental delay.
Race and ethnicity: Based on two separate questions that determine Hispanic or Latino origin and
race. Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin may be of any race.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 291 ■ November 2017
■ 7 ■
Data source and methods
Data from the 2014–2016 NHIS were used for this analysis. NHIS is a nationally representative
survey of the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population. It is conducted continuously
throughout the year by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). NHIS is an in-person
interview conducted in the respondent’s home. In some instances, follow-up to complete the
interview is conducted via telephone. The survey consists of (a) the Family Core component,
which collects information on all family members; (b) the Sample Adult component, which
collects additional information from one randomly selected adult per family; and (c) the Sample
Child component, which collects additional information about one randomly selected child per
family. The sample child component is completed by a family respondent, usually the parent
(approximately 91% of all cases). Data for this analysis come from the Sample Child and Family
Core components of NHIS. For more information about NHIS, visit
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm.
NHIS is designed to yield a nationally representative sample, and these analyses used weights to
produce national estimates. The sample design is described in more detail elsewhere (6). Point
estimates and the corresponding variances for this analysis were calculated using SUDAAN
software (7) to account for the complex sample design of NHIS. Linear and quadratic trends over
time and differences between percentages were evaluated using two-sided significance tests at the
0.05 level.
About the authors
Benjamin Zablotsky, Lindsey I. Black, and Stephen J. Blumberg are with the National Center for
Health Statistics, Division of Health Interview Statistics.
References
1. Boyle CA, Boulet S, Schieve LA, Cohen RA, Blumberg SJ, Yeargin-Allsopp M, et al.
Trends in the prevalence of developmental disabilities in US children, 1997–2008. Pediatrics
127(6):1034–42. 2011.
2. Zablotsky B, Black LI, Maenner MJ, Schieve LA, Blumberg SJ. Estimated prevalence of
autism and other developmental disabilities following questionnaire changes in the 2014 National
Health Interview Survey. National Health Statistics Reports; no 87. Hyattsville, MD: National
Center for Health Statistics. 2015.
3. Maenner MJ, Blumberg SJ, Kogan MD, Christensen D, Yeargin-Allsopp M, Schieve LA.
Prevalence of cerebral palsy and intellectual disability among children identified in two U.S.
national surveys, 2011–2013. Ann Epidemiol 26(3):222–6. 2016.
4. Christensen DL, Baio J, Van Naarden Braun K, Bilder D, Charles J, Constantino JN, et al.
Prevalence and characteristics of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 years––Autism
and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 sites, United States, 2012. MMWR
Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 65(3):1–23. 2016.
5. Johnson CP, Myers SM. Identification and evaluation of children with autism spectrum
disorders. Pediatrics 120(5):1183–215. 2007.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 291 ■ November 2017
6. Parsons VL, Moriarity C, Jonas K, Moore TF, Davis KE, Tompkins L.
Design and estimation for the National Health Interview Survey, 2006–2015.
National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 2(165). 2014.
7. RTI International. SUDAAN (Release 11.0.0) [computer software]. 2012.
Suggested citation
Zablotsky B, Black LI, Blumberg SJ.
Estimated prevalence of children with
diagnosed developmental disabilities in
the United States, 2014–2016. NCHS Data
Brief, no 291. Hyattsville, MD: National
Center for Health Statistics. 2017.
Copyright information
All material appearing in this report is in
the public domain and may be reproduced
or copied without permission; citation as to
source, however, is appreciated.
National Center for Health
Statistics
Charles J. Rothwell, M.S., M.B.A., Director
Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D., Associate
Director for Science
Division of Health Interview Statistics
Stephen J. Blumberg, Ph.D., Acting Director
Stephen J. Blumberg, Ph.D., Associate
Director for Science
For e-mail updates on NCHS publication
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For questions or general information
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Tel: 1–800–CDC–INFO (1–800–232–4636)
TTY: 1–888–232–6348
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Online request form: https://www.cdc.gov/info
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