Disability and Functioning (Noninstitutionalized Adults Aged 18 and Over)
Data are for the U.S.
Selected sensory problems
- Number of adults with hearing trouble: 37.2 million
- Percent of adults with hearing trouble: 15.3%
- Number of adults with vision trouble: 22.9 million
- Percent of adults with vision trouble: 9.4%
Difficulties in physical functioning
- Number of adults unable (or very difficult) to walk a quarter mile: 18.2 million
- Percent of adults unable (or very difficult) to walk a quarter mile: 7.5%
- Number of adults with any physical functioning difficulty: 39.6 million
- Percent of adults with any physical functioning difficulty: 16.3%
Basic actions difficulties or complex activity limitations
- Number of adults aged 18 and over with at least one basic actions difficulty or complex activity limitation: 77.0 million (2015)
- Percent of adults aged 18 and over with at least one basic actions difficulty or complex activity limitation: 32.2% (2015)
- Number of adults aged 65 and over with at least one basic actions difficulty or complex activity limitation: 26.5 million (2015)
- Percent of adults aged 65 and over with at least one basic actions difficulty or complex activity limitation: 59.8% (2015)
Source: Health, United States, 2016, table 42 [PDF – 9.8 MB]
Need help with personal care
- Percent of adults aged 65-74 who need help with personal care from other persons: 3.4%
- Percent of adults aged 75 and over who need help with personal care from other persons: 12.0%
More data
- Health, United States trend tables with data on disability
- Older Persons’ Health
- Prevalence of Complex Activity Limitations Among Racial/Ethnic Groups and Hispanic Subgroups of Adults: United States, 2003-2009 [PDF – 713 KB]
- Self-reported Hearing Trouble in Adults Aged 18 and Over: United States, 2014
Related Links
- National Health Interview Survey
- National Health Interview Survey on Disability
- Disability and Health Data System (DHDS)
- National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)
- Washington Group on Disability Statistics
- Page last reviewed: May 3, 2017
- Page last updated: May 3, 2017
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