The prevalence of special health care needs within the child population increases with age. Preschool children (from birth through 5 years of age) have the lowest prevalence of special health care needs (8.8 percent), followed by children aged 6–11 years (16.0 percent). Children in the oldest age group (12–17 years) have the highest prevalence of special health care needs (16.8 percent). The higher prevalence among older children is likely attributable to conditions that are not diagnosed or that do not develop until later in childhood.
The prevalence of special health care needs among children also varies by sex: 16.1 percent of boys are estimated to have special health care needs compared to 11.6 percent of girls.
