Table 4.
Adjusted temporal differences in special education eligibility of 8-year-old children with autism spectrum disorder, analysis restricted to geographic area that was common across the 4 surveillance years (n = 5370), Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 2002-2010a
| Eligibility | % in 2002 (n = 829) | Percentage-Point Change Since 2002 (95% CI)b | Overall Trend,c χ 2 (P Value) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 (n = 1270) | 2008 (n = 1531) | 2010 (n = 1740) | |||
| Autism | 52.3 | 0.0 (–4.4 to 4.3) | 1.5 (–2.7 to 5.7) | 2.7 (–1.4 to 6.8) | 3.1 (.38) |
| Developmental delayd | — | 4.5e | 1.9 (0.0 to 3.8) | 5.4 (3.6 to 7.2) | 6.0 (.05) |
| Emotional disorder | 5.3 | –1.2 (–3.2 to 0.7) | –1.0 (–2.9 to 0.9) | –2.0 (–3.8 to –0.1) | 5.1 (.17) |
| Intellectual disability | 12.2 | –1.8 (–4.3 to 0.7) | –3.5 (–5.8 to –1.2) | –4.3 (–6.5 to –2.1) | 22.4 (<.001) |
| Other health impairmentf | 7.4 | 2.1 (–1.3 to 4.7) | 0.5 (–2.8 to 3.7) | 0.7 (–2.5 to 3.8) | 0.0 (>.99) |
| Specific learning disabilities | 8.2 | –0.1 (–2.9 to 1.2) | –0.7 (–2.7 to 1.4) | –1.8 (–3.9 to 0.2) | 3.6 (.31) |
| Speech or language impairments | 10.4 | –1.6 (–4.0 to 0.4) | –2.4 (–4.3 to –0.5) | –3.0 (–4.8 to –1.2) | 18.2 (<.001) |
aData from the Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, and North Carolina sites of the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network.3,4
bModels adjusted for sex, non-Hispanic black race, non-Hispanic other race, Hispanic ethnicity, and site.
cLikelihood ratio tests with a P < .05 significance level tested for differences between years, with 2002 as the referent year.
dBecause of the small sample size in developmental disability eligibility in 2002, 2006 was the referent year.
ePercentage of 8-year old children with developmental delay in 2006.
fOther health impairment defined as limited strength, vitality, or alertness due to chronic health problems.