A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Faststats Home | NCHS Home | CDC/NCHS Privacy Policy Notice | Accessibility | Search NCHS | Contact us

Disabilities/Limitations

(Data are for U.S. for year indicated)

All noninstitutionalized persons

Number of persons with limitation(s) in usual activities due to chronic conditions: 34.4 million

Percent of persons with limitation(s) in usual activities due to chronic conditions: 11.8

Source: Summary Health Statistics for the U.S. Population: National Health Interview Survey, 2006, Tables 3, 4

Noninstitutionalized adults

Number of adults with hearing trouble: 37.2 million

Percent of adults with hearing trouble: 17

Number of adults with vision trouble: 21.2 million

Percent of adults with vision trouble: 9.6

Number of adults unable (or very difficult) to walk a quarter mile: 15.7 million

Percent of adults unable (or very difficult) to walk a quarter mile: 7.1

Number of adults with any physical functioning difficulty: 32.3 million

Percent of adults with any physical functioning difficulty:  15

Source: Summary Health Statistics for U.S. Adults, National Health Interview Survey, 2006, Tables 11, 12, 18 and 19

Noninstitutionalized older adults

Percent of adults 65-74 years who need help with personal care from other persons: 3.3

Percent of adults 75 years and over who need help with personal care from other persons: 9.6

Source: Summary Health Statistics for the U.S. Population: National Health Interview Survey, 2006, Tables 5

Noninstitutionalized children

Number of children 3-17 years of age who have ever been told of having a learning disability: 4.7 million

Percent of children 3-17 years of age who have ever been told of having a learning disability: 7.8

Source: Summary Health Statistics for U.S. Children, National Health Interview Survey, 2006, Appendix III, Table VI

More data

Health, United States Trend tables with data on disability

Disability and health in the United States, 2001-2005

Health Data Interactive

Related links

National Health Interview Survey

National Health Interview Survey on Disability

National Nursing Home Survey

National Institutes of Health

Americans With Disabilities Act Document Center

National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities

National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation

Washington Group on Disability Statistics

New Freedom Initiative’s Online Resource for Americans with Disabilities

This page last reviewed December 17, 2008