Almost one in ten children in the United States have a developmental disability, with their rates rising during the pandemic period when students were isolated and faced numerous restrictions.
Developmental disability among children between the ages of three and 17 rose to 8.56 percent during 2019–2021, according to a report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published this month. “Developmental disabilities are common in children in the United States, and the prevalence has increased in recent years,” said the agency. “Developmental disability includes autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and any other developmental delay.”
While intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder numbers did not show any “significant” change during this period, the percentage of kids diagnosed with other developmental delays rose. The prevalence of intellectual disability rose with age while the prevalence of other developmental delays decreased with age….