Today one in six children are diagnosed with some type of developmental disability, a 17 percent increase from 1997 to 2008, the American Academy of Pediatrics reports today.

The diagnoses range from disorders with well-documented jumps in prevalence, autism and attention deficit hyperactivity, to cerebral palsy and stammering, according to an article in Pediatrics, the AAP’s journal.

It is one of those studies that raises more questions than it answers, chief among them are how the medical and educational communities are adjusting to more families seeking treatment.

This is a big question for early learning educators because many children are getting diagnosed earlier in life, and more parents are looking for child care and preschools that can accommodate the special needs children.

Why the increase? It is largely speculation, but doctors, nurses and other professionals have better diagnostic tools today. As the body of research and public awareness about autism, ADHD and other disorders grows it makes sense diagnoses also will increase. You have to think these rates will continue to increase, fueled by scientific breakthroughs, new technology and expanded outreach. (There may be more answers in the complete article, but I’m waiting for it to land in my email inbox. You can read the abstract here.)

One of the study’s interesting findings was a significant decline in diagnosed hearing loss, which may suggest doctors and nurses are seeing beyond hearing issues to broader developmental disorders creating problems.

Any ideas on why diagnoses of delays are rising in children? Child care providers and pre-kindergarten teachers go ahead and post your thoughts or send me an email.