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Childhood disability rates increased over 10-year period

During the past 10 years, there has been a high increase in childhood disabilities due to neurodevelopmental or mental health problems, according to study results published in Pediatrics.

Amy J. Houtrow, MD, PhD, MPH, of the University of Pittsburgh, and colleagues evaluated data sets from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) from 2001-2002, 2004-2005, 2007-2008 and 2010-2011 to determine the prevalence, rate of change, severity and sociodemographic disparities of parent-reported childhood disabilities.

Amy J. Houtrow

Between 2001 and 2011, rates of disability for non-institutionalized children younger than 18 years increased by 15.6%. Disability among the total population increased from 6.87% to 7.94%.

According to the researchers, children living in homes with incomes of at least 400% above the federal poverty level had higher increases in the rate of disability (28.4%) compared with children living in households in which income is below the federal poverty level (10.7%).

There was a 24.2% decrease in the rate of asthma. However large increases were found for disabilities associated with speech problems (63.1%), mental retardation or intellectual impairment (63%), and other mental, emotional or behavioral problems (64.7%).

“Between 2001 and 2011 there has been a decline in disability related to conditions that were classified as physical and a large increase in disability related to conditions that were classified as neurodevelopmental or mental health in nature, especially for children living in sociodemographically advantaged families,” the researchers wrote. “The consequences of these trends are profound and certainly affect how pediatricians and mental health professionals practice and prepare to address the needs of their patients.”

The researchers recommend that the health care system be adequately equipped to handle the changing trends of children with disabilities.

“Although additional research is necessary, documenting changes in the prevalence of childhood disability is an important step in developing better prevention and treatment strategies, refining how we study disability, and determining how to create and deliver services to best meet the needs of children,” the researchers wrote.

Disclosure: See the complete study for a full list of the researchers’ financial disclosures.