Health care use and health and functional impact of developmental disabilities among US children, 1997-2005.
OBJECTIVE
To present nationally representative estimates of health-related limitations, needs, and service use among US children with and without developmental disabilities (DDs).


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of data from a sample of US households from the 1997-2005 National Health Interview Surveys.


METHODS
Children aged 3 to 17 years (n = 95 132).


METHODS
Parents or other knowledgeable adults reported on their children's DDs, health needs, and use of health and education services. Developmental disabilities included attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism, blindness, cerebral palsy, deaf/a lot of trouble hearing, learning disability, mental retardation, seizures, stuttering/stammering, and other developmental delay.


RESULTS
Among children with 1 or more DDs, prevalence estimates for limitations in movement (6.1%), needed help with personal care (3.2%), needed special equipment (3.5%), received home health care (1.4%), and regularly took prescription medication(s) (37.5%) were 4 to 32 times higher than for children without DDs. Children with DDs were 2 to 8 times as likely to have had more than 9 health care visits (14.9%), received special education (38.8%), had a surgical or medical procedure (7.5%), and recently visited a medical specialist (23.9%), mental health professional (26.6%), therapist/allied health professional (19.6%), and/or emergency department (10.3%). Effects were generally stable during the study interval and independent of age, race, sex, and family income. Cerebral palsy, autism, mental retardation, blindness, and deafness/a lot of trouble hearing were associated with the highest levels of health and functional impact indicators.


CONCLUSIONS
Developmental disabilities profoundly affect children's health and functioning. These data can inform evidence-based targeted prevention strategies for minimizing functional limitations and lifetime disability. Additional study of unmet needs and access to care is needed.
Boulet
Sheree L
SL
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Mail Stop E86, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. sboulet@cdc.gov
Boyle
Coleen A
CA
Schieve
Laura A
LA
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology