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TOPLINE:

The prevalence of childhood disability ranged between 11.1% and 23.0% depending on the identification strategy used, with only a small proportion of children identified by using four different strategies in the study.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers analyzed 2019-2022 data from an annual, cross-sectional survey of the US population to estimate the prevalence of disability among children aged 5-17 years.
• One adult per household completed a computer-assisted interview, reporting on their own health and that of other family members.
• Researchers evaluated four different strategies to identify disability: the Washington Group (WG) method, presence of learning or developmental disabilities, receipt of an individualized education program, and limitations in performing two or more core functioning tasks or experiencing weekly depression or anxiety.

TAKEAWAY:

• Depending on the strategy used, researchers identified 11.1%-23.0% of children as having disabilities; 7.7% were identified by two strategies, 5.4% by three, and 3.6% by all four.
• Disabilities were more common in boys than in girls across all identification strategies, with the difference most pronounced when identified using the receipt of an individualized education program and certain learning or developmental disabilities.
• American Indian and Alaska Native children had the highest prevalence of disability, whereas Asian children had the lowest.
• Using the WG strategy, disabilities were identified in 9.3% of children living above 500% of the federal poverty level compared with 21.4% of those living below 50% of the federal poverty level. The size of this gap varied by the identification strategy.

IN PRACTICE:

“Limited overlap between strategies suggests the need for caution when interpreting research based on a single identification approach. When seeking a broader classification of children with disabilities, using more than one identification strategy could be advantageous,” the researchers wrote.

SOURCE:

This study was led by Amy J. Houtrow, MD, PhD, MPH, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh. It was published online on September 2, 2025, in JAMA Pediatrics.

LIMITATIONS:

The data were reported by parents or guardians and may have been subject to recall bias. The presence of disabilities was not confirmed in medical, therapeutic, or educational settings.

DISCLOSURES:

This study received funding from the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health. One author reported receiving funds from the funding agency. Another author reported receiving grants from various organizations, including the National Institutes of Health, US FDA, and the Research Triangle Institute, as well as personal fees from Emmes/Casimir and ISPOR.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.