DISABILITY

Definition

A disability or restrictive long-term health condition exists if a limitation, restriction, impairment, disease or disorder has lasted, or is expected to last for six months or more, which restricts everyday activities.

A disability or restrictive long-term health condition is classified by whether or not a person has a specific limitation or restriction. The specific limitation or restriction is further classified by whether the limitation or restriction is a limitation in core activities, or a schooling/employment restriction only.

For the non-remote population there are five levels of activity limitation (profound, severe, moderate, mild and school/employment restriction only). These are based on whether, and how often, a person needs help, has difficulty, or uses aids or equipment with any core activities (self-care, mobility or communication). A person's overall level of core activity limitation is determined by their highest level of limitation in any of these activities.

For the remote population, questions that determined mild core activity limitation were not asked. As a result the 'Has mild core activity limitation' and 'Has no limitation or specific restriction' categories were combined into the 'Has unspecified limitation or restriction' category.

Population

Information was obtained from all persons in the NATSIHS.

Methodology

Respondents were asked about any conditions that they may have that have lasted, or are expected to last, six months or more:

• shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing
• chronic or recurring pain
• a nervous or emotional condition
• long-term effects as a result of a head injury, stroke or other brain damage
• any other long-term condition that requires treatment or medication
• any other long-term condition such as arthritis, asthma, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease or dementia.

• sight problems not corrected by glasses or contact lenses
• hearing problems
• speech problems
• blackouts, fits or loss of consciousness
• difficulty learning or understanding things
• limited use of arms or fingers
• difficulty gripping things
• limited use of legs or feet
• any condition that restricts physical activity or physical work (e.g. back problems, migraines)
• any disfigurement or deformity
• any mental illness for which help or supervision is required.

• bathing/showering
• dressing/undressing
• eating/feeding
• going to the toilet
• bladder/bowel control.

• moving around away from home
• moving around at home
• getting in or out of bed or chair.

• understanding/being understood by strangers, friends or family, including use of sign language/lip reading.

• those who answered yes to always needing help, were classified as having a 'profound core activity limitation'
• those who don't always need help, but may require help at times, were classified as having a 'severe core activity limitation'
• those who had difficulty with the tasks were classified as having a 'moderate core activity limitation'
• those who simply required aids to undertake the task were classified as having a 'mild core activity limitation'. Note that remote respondents were not asked about aids used and therefore would be classified as having an 'unspecified limitation or restriction'.

• easily walk 200 meters
• walk up and down stairs without a handrail
• easily bend to pick up an object from the floor
• use public transport without difficulty, help or supervision.

• not attending school/further study due to condition
• need time off school/study
• attend special classes/school
• other related difficulties.

• type of job could do
• limit number of hours worked
• finding suitable work
• needing time off work
• permanently unable to work.

• Conditions are 'as reported' by respondents and do not necessarily represent conditions as medically diagnosed. However, as the data relate to conditions which had lasted, or were expected to last, for six months or more, there is considered to be a reasonable likelihood that medical diagnoses would have been made in most cases. The degree to which conditions have been medically diagnosed is likely to differ across condition types.
• Interviewers were advised that conditions reported in this module were also reported in the other modules where appropriate. However, respondents did not always report conditions again, so types of disabilities reported in this module may not be reflected in the ICD-10 conditions and as such any comparisons should be undertaken with caution.
• 'Restricted in everyday activities' means less able, or unable, to engage in the everyday activities that a healthy individual of the same age would be able to. Respondents can perceive themselves to be restricted in everyday activities by causes other than the specific conditions listed.
• Aids needed for any condition lasting less than six months (i.e. broken leg) were not included. Examples of aids are hearing aids, wheelchairs for long-term use, special cutlery and changes to floors/steps/paths.
• Difficulties with education relate to situations such as being unable to attend a particular educational institution, needing time off from regular classes, or requiring special tuition. Only current difficulties with education were collected. Any difficulties a respondent may have previously experienced with education were excluded.
• Difficulties with employment relate to respondents who could not work or were restricted in the type of work they could do, regularly needed time off work, were restricted in the number of hours they could work, or required an employer to make special arrangements for them. Only current difficulties with employment were collected. Any difficulties a respondent may have previously experienced with employment were excluded.