November 13, 1997
Contact: NCHS Public Affairs Office (301) 458-4800
e-mail: paoquery@cdc.gov
A new report from the
National Center for Health Statistics examines the use of assistive
technology devices for vision, hearing, mobility, and orthopedic
impairments. This is the first analysis of this kind from the National
Health Interview Survey's Disability Supplement. Highlights from the
report titled "Trends and Differential Use of Assistive Technology
Devices: United States, 1994" include:
An estimated 7.4 million persons in the U.S. household population use
assistive technology devices for mobility impairments, the most frequent
reason for using an assistive device. Almost 5 million people use canes,
the single most utilized assistive device.
Another 4.6 million
use assistive devices such as back braces and artificial limbs to
compensate for orthopedic impairments.
4.5 million use
hearing aids, amplified telephones, closed caption television, and other
assistive devices for hearing impairments.
500,000 use these
devices for vision impairments.
The majority of
persons using these devices were over 65 years of age. Sixty-two percent
of persons using mobility devices, 69 percent of persons using hearing
devices, and 51 percent of persons using vision devices are over 65 years
of age.
Use of assistive
devices has increased dramatically over the past decade, in part due to
the aging of the population but also due to technological advances, public
policy initiatives, and changes in the delivery and financing of health
care.
For further
information about this report, please contact the National Center for
Health Statistics at the telephone number or e-mail address above or write
to the National Center for Health Statistics, 3311 Toledo Road,
Hyattsville, MD 20782.