PREVALENCE AND HEALTH IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENTAL-DISABILITIES IN US CHILDREN

Objective. Data from the 1988 National Health Interview Survey-Child H ealth Supplement were used to examine the prevalence of selected devel opmental disabilities and their impact among children ages 0 through 1 7 years. Design. The following conditions, identified through a struct ured in-person interview with a parent or other adult household member , were examined: deafness or trouble hearing, blindness, epilepsy or s eizures, stammering and stuttering, other speech defects, cerebral pal sy, delay in growth or development, learning disabilities, and emotion al or behavioral problems. The impact was defined by measures of perce ived health status, school performance and attendance, and health care utilization. Results. Seventeen percent of children in the United Sta tes were reported to have ever had a developmental disability. The pre valence of the individual disabilities ranged from 0.2% for cerebral p alsy to 6.5% for learning disabilities. These conditions taken togethe r had a substantial impact on the health and educational functioning o f affected children: 1.5 times more doctor visits, 3.5 times more hosp ital-days, twice the number of school-days lost, and a 2.5-foId increa se in the likelihood of repeating a grade in school compared with chil dren without these conditions. The extent of this impact was much grea ter among children with multiple disabilities or with either cerebral palsy, epilepsy or seizures, delays in growth and development, or emot ional or behavioral problems. The impact on school performance was mos t pronounced for children reported to have learning disabilities. Conc lusions. Future research efforts should be focused on ways to reduce t he impact of these developmental disabilities on quality of life.