NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 205 ■ June 2015

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

Communication Disorders and Use of Intervention Services 

Among Children Aged 3–17 Years: United States, 2012

Lindsey I. Black, M.P.H.; Anjel Vahratian, Ph.D., M.P.H.; and Howard J. Hoffman, M.A.

Key findings 

Data from the National 

Health Interview Survey, 

2012

● Nearly 8% of children 

aged 3–17 years had a 

communication disorder during 

the past 12 months. 

● Children aged 3–6 years, 

boys, and non-Hispanic black 

children were more likely than 

other children to have had any 

communication disorder. 

● Approximately 55% of 

children aged 3–17 years 

who had any communication 

disorder received an 

intervention service during the 

past 12 months.

● Among those with any 

communication disorder, 

younger children, boys, and 

non-Hispanic white children 

were more likely than 

other children to receive an 

intervention service for their 

disorder.

Increasing the proportion of children with voice, swallowing, speech, or 

language disorders who receive intervention services is a Healthy People 

2020 goal (1). Timely receipt of intervention services is shown to be effective 

for treatment of communication disorders (2–5). Using data from the 2012 

National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), this brief reports the percentage of 

U.S. children aged 3–17 years who had communication disorders of speech, 

language, voice, or swallowing. Further, of those with a communication 

disorder, the percentage who received intervention services is also reported.

Keywords: speech • language • voice • National Health Interview Survey

What percentage of children aged 3–17 years had a 

communication disorder during the past 12 months?

In 2012, 7.7% of children aged 3–17 years had a communication disorder 

during the past 12 months (Figure 1). Speech problems were the most 

Figure 1. Percentage of children aged 3–17 years with a communication disorder during the past 

12 months: United States, 2012 Percent

NOTES: Data are based on household interviews with parents or adult caregivers of children in a sample of the civilian 

noninstitutionalized U.S. population. Children could have more than one type of communication disorder.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, 2012.

Type of communication disorder

0

2

4

6

8

10

Swallowing

problems

Voice

problems

Language

problems

Speech

problems

Any

communication

disorder

7.7

5.0

3.3

1.4

0.9
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 205 ■ June 2015

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prevalent type of communication disorder (5.0%), while swallowing problems were the least 

prevalent (0.9%). 

Among children with a communication disorder during the past 12 months, 

what proportion had multiple types of communication disorders?

One-third of children aged 3–10 years with a communication disorder had more than one type of 

communication disorder during the past 12 months (Figure 2). In contrast, one-fourth of children 

aged 11–17 years with a communication disorder had more than one type of communication 

disorder during the past 12 months. Speech problems on their own were the most common 

individual type of communication disorder, with 41.8% of children aged 3–10 and 24.4% of 

children aged 11–17 affected. Among children aged 3–10, 13.6% had language problems, 6.3% 

had voice problems, and 4.3% had swallowing problems. Among children aged 11–17, 23.2% had 

language problems, 12.5% had voice problems, and 14.5% had swallowing problems. 

Figure 2. Percent distribution of types of communication disorders among children aged 3–17 years with a 

communication disorder during the past 12 months, by age group: United States, 2012

NOTE: Data are based on household interviews with parents or adult caregivers of children in a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, 2012.

Multiple types of 

communication

disorders

34.0%

Swallowing

problems only

4.3% Voice

problems only

6.3%

Language

problems only

13.6%

Speech 

problems only

41.8%

Multiple types of 

communication

disorders

25.4%

Speech 

problems only

24.4%

Swallowing

problems only

14.5% Voice

problems

only

12.5%

Language

problems only

23.2%

Children aged 3–10 years Children aged 11–17 years
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 205 ■ June 2015

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Did the percentage of children aged 3–17 years with any communication 

disorder during the past 12 months vary by race and Hispanic origin, sex, 

and age group?

The percentage of children aged 3–17 years with any communication disorder during the past 

12 months was higher among non-Hispanic black children (9.6%) compared with Hispanic 

children (6.9%) (Figure 3). Boys (9.6%) were more likely than girls (5.7%) to have had any 

communication disorder during the past 12 months. Children aged 3–6 years (11.0%) and 

7–10 years (9.3%) were more likely than children aged 11–17 years (4.9%) to have had any 

communication disorder in the past 12 months. 

Figure 3. Percentage of children aged 3–17 years with any communication disorder during the past 12 months, by 

selected demographic characteristics: United States, 2012

1

Significantly different from Hispanic children (p < 0.05). 2

Significantly different from boys (p < 0.05). 3

Significantly different from children aged 11–17 years (p < 0.05).

NOTE: Data are based on household interviews with parents or adult caregivers of children in a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, 2012.

Percent

Age (years)

Sex

0246 8 10 12

11–17

7–10

3–6

Boys

Girls

Race and Hispanic origin

Hispanic

Non-Hispanic black

Non-Hispanic white

Total 7.7

7.8

1

9.6

6.9

2

5.7

9.6

3

11.0

3

9.3

4.9
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 205 ■ June 2015

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Among children aged 3–17 years with any communication disorder, what 

percentage received an intervention service during the past 12 months?

Overall, 55.2% of children aged 3–17 years with any communication disorder received an Percent

Figure 4. Percentage of children aged 3–17 years with any communication disorder who received an intervention service 

during the past 12 months, by type of communication disorder: United States, 2012

* Estimate has a relative standard error greater than 30% and less than or equal to 50% and should be used with caution as it does not meet NCHS standards 

of reliability or precision. 

NOTE: Data are based on household interviews with parents or adult caregivers of children in a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, 2012.

0

20

40

60

80

100

Language problems Voice problems Swallowing problems

Type of communication disorder

Any communication Speech problems

disorder

55.2

67.6 66.8

22.8

*12.7
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 205 ■ June 2015

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Did the percentage of children aged 3–17 years who received an 

intervention service during the past 12 months for any communication 

disorder vary by race and Hispanic origin, sex, and age group?

Among children with any communication disorder, the prevalence of receiving an intervention 

service for their disorder was highest among non-Hispanic white children (60.1%) compared 

with both non-Hispanic black (45.8%) and Hispanic children (47.3%) (Figure 5). Boys with any 

communication disorder (59.4%) were more likely than girls with any communication disorder 

(47.8%) to have received an intervention service for their disorder. Both children aged 3–6 years 

(59.8%) and 7–10 years (61.3%) with any communication disorder were more likely than those 

aged 11–17 years (42.6%) to have received an intervention service for their disorder.

Figure 5. Percentage of children aged 3–17 years with any communication disorder who received an intervention service 

during the past 12 months, by selected demographic characteristics: United States, 2012

1

Significantly different from non-Hispanic white children (p < 0.05). 2

Significantly different from boys (p < 0.05). 3

Significantly different from children aged 11–17 years (p < 0.05).

NOTE: Data are based on household interviews with parents or adult caregivers of children in a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, 2012.

Percent

Age (years)

Sex

11–17

7–10

3–6

Boys

Girls

Race and Hispanic origin

Hispanic

Non-Hispanic black

Non-Hispanic white

0 20 40 60 80 100

60.1

1

47.3

2

47.8

59.4

3

59.8

3

61.3

42.6

1

45.8
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 205 ■ June 2015

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Summary

In 2012, 7.7% of children aged 3–17 years had any communication disorder during the past 

12 months. Speech and language problems were the most frequently reported communication 

disorders among this age group. Among those with any communication disorder, one-third of 

children aged 3–10 and one-quarter of children aged 11–17 had two or more disorders in the past 

12 months. Communication disorders were more prevalent among non-Hispanic black children, 

boys, and younger children. Overall, more than one-half of children with any communication 

disorder received intervention services for their disorder during the past 12 months. Among those 

with any communication disorder, non-Hispanic black and Hispanic children were less likely than 

non-Hispanic white children to receive intervention services for their disorders. Girls were less 

likely than boys and older children were less likely than younger children to receive intervention 

services. 

Increasing the proportion of children with voice, swallowing, speech, or language disorders who 

receive intervention services is a Healthy People 2020 goal (1). Using the most recent NHIS 

data available, this report provides a snapshot of the percentage of children aged 3–17 years 

in the United States who have a communication disorder and among those, who has received 

intervention services in the past 12 months. Ongoing surveillance may provide further insights 

into the health and wellbeing of this population.

Definitions

Speech problem: Based on a positive response to the question, “During the past 12 months, has 

[sample child] had a problem speaking, such as making speech sounds correctly or stuttering, that 

lasted for a week or longer?” 

Language problem: Based on a positive response to the question, “During the past 12 months, has 

[sample child] had a problem learning, using, or understanding words or sentences that lasted for 

a week or longer?”

Voice problem: Based on a positive response to the question, “During the past 12 months, has 

[sample child] had any problems or difficulties with his/her voice, such as too weak, hoarse, or 

strained, that lasted for a week or longer?”

Swallowing problem: Based on a positive response to the question, “During the past 12 months, 

has [sample child] had a problem swallowing food or beverages that lasted for a week or longer?”

Communication disorder: Based on a positive response to at least one of the four problems listed 

above. Disorders were parent-reported and not necessarily diagnosed by a doctor or health care 

professional. 

Receipt of intervention services: Respondents who indicated that the sample child had a speech, 

language, voice, or swallowing problem were then asked the following question separately for 

each type of communication disorder, “During the past 12 months, did [sample child] receive 

speech language therapy or other intervention services for his/her 1) voice problems; 2) problems 

swallowing, 3) speech problems; 4) using, learning, or understanding words or sentences; 

respectively?”
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 205 ■ June 2015

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Data source and methods

This report is based on data from the 2012 NHIS, a nationally representative survey of the civilian 

noninstitutionalized population of the United States. NHIS is conducted continuously throughout 

the year for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health 

Statistics (NCHS) by the U.S. Census Bureau. Interviews are conducted in respondents’ homes, 

but follow-ups to complete interviews may be conducted over the telephone. Questions for this 

analysis are from the household composition section and the Sample Child components of the 

2012 NHIS. A sample child is randomly selected from each family in NHIS, and information 

about the sample child is obtained from an adult residing in the household who is knowledgeable 

about the child’s health (usually the parent). Questions on communication disorders in children 

were from the 2012 child communication disorders (CCD) supplement embedded in the Sample 

Child component of the survey. The CCD supplement was developed and implemented with 

collaboration and funding support from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on 

Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.

NHIS is designed to yield a nationally representative sample, and this analysis used weights to 

produce national estimates. The sample design is described elsewhere (6). Point estimates and 

estimates of corresponding variance were calculated using the SUDAAN software package (7) 

to account for the complex sample design of NHIS. The Taylor linearization method was used 

for variance estimation. Unless otherwise noted, all estimates shown meet the NCHS standard 

for reliability (having a relative standard error less than or equal to 30%). Differences between 

percentages were evaluated using two-sided significance tests at the 0.05 level.

About the authors

Lindsey I. Black and Anjel Vahratian are with CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, 

Division of Health Interview Statistics. Howard J. Hoffman is with the National Institutes 

of Health’s National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Division of 

Scientific Programs.

References

1. HHS. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Healthy People 2020. 

Washington, DC.

2. Almost D, Rosenbaum P. Effectiveness of speech intervention for phonological disorders: 

A randomized controlled trial. Dev Med Child Neurol 40(5):319–25. 1998.

3. Law J, Garrett Z, Nye C. The efficacy of treatment for children with developmental speech 

and language delay/disorder: A meta-analysis. J Speech Lang Hear Res 47(4):924–43. 2004.

4. Beitchman JH, Wilson B, Johnson CJ, Atkinson L, Young A, Adlaf E, et al. Fourteen-year 

follow-up of speech/language-impaired and control children: Psychiatric outcome. J Am Acad 

Child Adolesc Psychiatry 40(1):75–82. 2001.

5. Schwarz SM, Corredor J, Fisher-Medina J, Cohen J, Rabinowitz S. Diagnosis and treatment 

of feeding disorders in children with developmental disabilities. Pediatrics 108(3):671–6. 2001. 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 205 ■ June 2015

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POSTAGE & FEES PAID 

CDC/NCHS 

PERMIT NO. G-284

6. Parsons VL, Moriarity C, Jonas K, et al. 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

Black LI, Vahratian A, Hoffman HJ. 

Communication disorders and use of 

intervention services among children aged 

3–17 years: United States, 2012. NCHS data 

brief, no 205. Hyattsville, MD: National 

Center for Health Statistics. 2015. 

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

Nathaniel Schenker, Ph.D., Deputy Director

Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D., Associate 

 Director for Science

Division of Health Interview Statistics

Marcie L. Cynamon, Acting Director

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