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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

Linear 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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

Significantly different from girls (p < 0.05). 2

Significantly different from children aged 3–7 years (p < 0.05). 3

Significantly 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

 

1

Significantly different from girls (p < 0.05). 2

Significantly 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

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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

 

1

Significantly different from girls (p < 0.05). 2

Significantly different from children aged 13–17 years (p < 0.05). 3

Significantly 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

 

1

Significantly different from girls (p < 0.05). 2

Significantly different from children aged 8–12 years (p < 0.05). 3

Significantly 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

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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

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