Prevalence of Communication Disorders

Prevalence (also known as point prevalence) refers to the number of people in a population with communication disorder(s) at a particular time. Period prevalence refers to the number of people with communication within a population that are receiving services over a certain period of time (typically over the past year). Incidence refers to the number of newly diagnosed cases of communication disorder(s) within a population over a specified time. Information about prevalence of communication disorders is used to plan and monitor the outcomes of prevention and intervention programs, and inform allocation of resources and public health policy. Population risk is also determined using prevalence data and can be used to target prevention programs for groups at risk. Epidemiological studies of communication disorders typically report prevalence, ...