# Presentation: 658340

## Exploring the Impact of Assistive Device Use on Disability Measurement

- Jennifer Madans
- Beth Rasch
- Barbara Altman

- National Center for Health Statistics, CDC

## What is Being Measured? Disability Prevalence

- What is Being Measured? Disability Prevalence

- National Center for Health Statistics, CDC

## What is being Measured?Disability as a Demographic

- National Center for Health Statistics, CDC

## Exploring Use of Assistive Devices as a Partial Measure of Disability

- This analysis examines how assistive device use can effect how  a global measure of disability is developed.
- The issues raised also apply to other measurement of participation or environment.

- National Center for Health Statistics, CDC

## Choices of Basis of Measurement

- Questions can be structured to capture:
- 		Body/structure impairments
- 		Activity limitations
- 		Limitations in participation
- 		Environmental factors
- 			Includes device use
- How do these types of measures combine to influence the two uses of measures?

- National Center for Health Statistics, CDC

## Data Source

-  The data used in this analysis come from the National Health Interview Survey – Disability Supplement collected in the U.S. in 1994-95.
- Sample includes adults, aged 18 and over

- National Center for Health Statistics, CDC

## Variety of Question Format – Mobility Devices and Braces

- Questions asked of or about everyone:
- Example: Does anyone in the family now use any of these aids to get around? (a cane, crutches, walker, medically prescribed shoes, a wheelchair, or a scooter?) Which aids does –use?
- Has – used or is – expected to use (aid identified) for 12 months or longer?

- National Center for Health Statistics, CDC

## Types of Equipment Use Reported

- National Center for Health Statistics, CDC

## Duration of Equipment Use Among Equipment Users

- National Center for Health Statistics, CDC

## Report of  No Limitation in Mobility Functions Among Mobility Device Users

- National Center for Health Statistics, CDC

## Report of No Mobility Limitations Among Persons with Brace Use

- National Center for Health Statistics, CDC

## Variety of Question Formats – Hearing Devices (or Vision)

- Does anyone in the family now use a hearing aid?  Asked of everyone.
- (Besides a hearing aid), Does – now use an amplifier for the telephone, a TDD, TTY or teletype, closed caption TV, assistive listening or signaling devices, an interpreter, or any other equipment for people with hearing impairments?  **ASKED ONLY OF PERSONS WHO REPORTED HAVING TROUBLE HEARING AND EXPECTING TO HAVE IT FOR AT LEAST 12 MONTHS**

- National Center for Health Statistics, CDC

## Report of Hearing Limitations Among Persons with Hearing Aid Use

- National Center for Health Statistics, CDC

## Report of Hearing Limitations among Persons with Other Hearing Equipment Use

- National Center for Health Statistics, CDC

## Report of ADL Difficulty or Need for Help Among Persons with ADL Device Use

- National Center for Health Statistics, CDC

## Report of Limitations in Major Activities by Persons with Device Use

- National Center for Health Statistics, CDC

## Do Persons Who Use Devices Report Any Type of Activity Limitation?(Sensory Devices and Limitations Omitted)

- Do Persons Who Use Devices Report Any Type of Activity Limitation?(Sensory Devices and Limitations Omitted)

- National Center for Health Statistics, CDC

## Influence of Self Identity as Disabled on  Reporting No Limitations Among Users of Devices (Sensory Data Omitted)

- National Center for Health Statistics, CDC

## General Characteristics of Persons Using Assistive Devices, but Reporting No Limitations (Sensory Devices and Limitations Omitted)

- 25.8% of persons aged 18 to 44 who are long term users of assistive devices report no limitations. Among those 45 to 64, 10.1%, and among those 65+, 5.7%
- 14.4% of men with long term device use indicate no limitations compared to 8.9% of women.

- National Center for Health Statistics, CDC

## General Characteristics of Persons Using Assistive Devices, but Reporting No Limitations (Sensory Devices and Limitations Omitted)(continued)

- 18.5% of college graduates with long term device use report no limitations while only 5.4% of persons with less than 12 years of education report no limitations.
- 23.3% of persons using devices with greater than $50,000 family income report no limitations. Proportion lower among lower incomes.

- National Center for Health Statistics, CDC

## Several Questions Arise with Prospect of Increasing Availability and Use of Assistive Devices

- Is device use enough to include person in count of population with disability?
- If not, where do these people fit into the picture?

- National Center for Health Statistics, CDC

## Where do Device Users Fit in Prevalence Data?

- National Center for Health Statistics, CDC

## How do Device Users Fit into Disability Measures Used as a Demographic?

- National Center for Health Statistics, CDC

## Combining Device Use with Disability Indicator

- National Center for Health Statistics, CDC