Communication Disorders and Use of Intervention Services Among Children Aged 3–17 Years: United States, 2012

Increasing the proportion of children with voice, swallowing, speech, or language disorders who receive intervention services is a Healthy People 2020 goal. Timely receipt of intervention services is shown to be effective for treatment of communication disorders.

Using data from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey, this report gives 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.

Key Findings from the Report:

• 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.