d n i h e
B THE NUMBERS
OF PEOPLE WITH IDD
A
ccording to Hoangmai ed)—using prevalence rates from view Survey are publicly released, (Mai) H. Pham, MD, the Centers for Disease Control and the number of children with IDD MPH, the commonly Prevention’s Autism and Developwill prove even higher than IEC used estimate of 7- to mental Disabilities monitoring data estimated.” 8- million people with Intellectual in 2018 for children; and results of and Developmental Disabilities a comprehensive survey of adults A Vision for Better Data, (IDD) is grossly outdated. “Those from 1995, multiplied by the numBetter Care same numbers have been cited for ber of children and adults in the IEC is striving to make IDD nearly 10 years, and it’s just not visible by planning to plausible that nothing build automated meth“We believe the commonly has changed in that ods of identifying IDD time,” she stated. in electronic medical used estimate of 7 to 8 Dr. Pham explained that the record data or insurance million people with IDD is NHIS (National Health Interclaims. Dr. Pham’s view Survey) did not consider hope is that automated grossly outdated,” said asking adults questions relating approaches will rely Hoangmai (Mai) H. Pham, to IDD, which explains why less on the documentasome very old data still pertion habits of healthcare MD, MPH. “Those same sists. She added, “People spend professionals, most numbers have been cited many more years in adulthood of whom receive little than in childhood, but our data training on IDD. for nearly 10 years, and it’s priorities make them invisible Improving data that when they’re developing more just not plausible that nothing can support better physical and mental health financing and payment has changed in that time.” problems.” for services to peoDr. Pham founded Institute ple with IDD is one for Exceptional Care (IEC) in of IEC’s three pillars 2020, whose mission is to transof work. Dr. Pham explains that U.S. in 2019, respectively. form healthcare for people with financing and payment have to Dr. Pham considers such estiIDD. The more accurate numbers be married to cultural change and mates as conservative as they do are closer to the IEC’s calculatnot account for likely growth in better training for clinicians, as ed estimates of 10 to 16 million prevalence in the intervening years: well as strategies that relieve fam(depending on whether ADHD and “We anticipate that when data from ilies of the burden of coordinating learning disabilities are includlast year’s National Health Intercomplex services.
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