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Percentage of Children Ages 3–17 with a Communication or Swallowing Disorder Who Received an Intervention Service During the Past 12 Months, by Type of Disorder: United States, 2012

See below for chart description.

Overall, 55.2% of children ages 3–17 years with any communication or swallowing disorder received an intervention service in the past 12 months. Among children with speech problems, 67.6% received a speech problem intervention service. Among children with language problems, 66.8% received a language problem intervention service. 22.8% of children with voice problems received a voice problem intervention service and 12.7% of children with swallowing problems received a swallowing problem intervention service.

*The estimate for intervention service for swallowing problems has a relative standard error greater than 30% and less than or equal to 50% and should be used with caution as it does not meet NCHS standards of reliability or precision.

Note

Data are based on household interviews with parents or adult caregivers of children in a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population.

Data source

CDC/NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, 2012

Definitions

Speech problem: Based on a positive response to the question, "During the past 12 months, has [sample child] had a problem speaking, such as making speech sounds correctly or stuttering, that lasted for a week or longer?"

Language problem: Based on a positive response to the question, "During the past 12 months, has [sample child] had a problem learning, using, or understanding words or sentences that lasted for a week or longer?"

Voice problem: Based on a positive response to the question, “During the past 12 months, has [sample child] had any problems or difficulties with his/her voice, such as too weak, hoarse, or strained, that lasted for a week or longer?"

Swallowing problem: Based on a positive response to the question, "During the past 12 months, has [sample child] had a problem swallowing food or beverages that lasted for a week or longer?"

Communication disorder: Based on a positive response to at least one of the four problems listed above. Disorders were parent-reported and not necessarily diagnosed by a doctor or health care professional.

Receipt of intervention services: Respondents who indicated that the sample child had a speech, language, voice, or swallowing problem were then asked the following question separately for each type of communication disorder, "During the past 12 months, did [sample child] receive speech language therapy or other intervention services for his/her 1) voice problems; 2) problems swallowing, 3) speech problems; 4) using, learning, or understanding words or sentences; respectively?"

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