title: Prevalence and etiologies of adult communication disabilities in the United States: Results from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Communication disabilities, including speech, language and voice disabilities, can significantly impact a person's quality of life, employment and health status. Despite this, little is known about the prevalence and etiology of communication disabilities in the general adult population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence and etiology of communication disabilities in a nationally representative adult sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study and analyzed the responses of non-institutionalized adults to the Sample Adult Core questionnaire within the 2012 National Health Interview Survey. We used respondents' self-report of having a speech, language or voice disability within the past year and receiving a diagnosis for one of these communication disabilities, as well as the etiology of their communication disability. We additionally examined the responses by subgroups, including sex, age, race and ethnicity, and geographical area.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2012 approximately 10% of the US adult population reported a communication disability, while only 2% of adults reported receiving a diagnosis. The rates of speech, language and voice disabilities and diagnoses varied across gender, race/ethnicity and geographic groups. The most common response for the etiology of a communication disability was "something else."
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improved understanding of population prevalence and etiologies of communication disabilities will assist in appropriately directing rehabilitation and medical services; potentially reducing the burden of communication disabilities.
authors: Mayo Clinic, Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Rochester, MN, USA; Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA. Electronic address: mmorris17@partners.org.
authors: Megan A
authors: MA
authors: Morris
authors: Mayo Clinic, Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Rochester, MN, USA; Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors: Sarah K
authors: SK
authors: Meier
authors: Mayo Clinic, Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Rochester, MN, USA; Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors: Joan M
authors: JM
authors: Griffin
authors: Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors: Megan E
authors: ME
authors: Branda
authors: Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors: Sean M
authors: SM
authors: Phelan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003147:Communication Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D013060:Speech; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014831:Voice; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Communication disability; Epidemiology; Etiology