Rises in disability prevalence in the late 1990s were
particularly marked among children aged 5-14, the older working age
population and people aged 75 or over, according to a report
released today by the Australian Institute of Health and
Welfare.
And within these groups, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD), the post-World War 2 baby-boomer population
'bulge', and the general ageing of the population have been singled
out, respectively, as the most significant factors.
The report, Disability Prevalence and Trends, says
overall rises in the number of people with a disability, especially
those with a severe or profound core activity restriction, were
also due in large part to substantial changes in survey methods
between 1993 and 1998. These changes brought more people with a
disability into the scope of the survey.
Senior Analyst with the AIHW's Functioning and Disability Unit,
Dr Xingyan Wen, said that the increase in severe or profound core
activity restriction among children applied especially to boys.
'The rates for boys aged 5-14 rose from 2.7% to 4.9% between
1993 and 1998, more than twice the average increase for males aged
15-64. For girls aged 5-14 the rates rose from 1.8% to 2.4%.'
The main area of increase in prevalence of disabling conditions
in children was intellectual disabling conditions, of which most
were reported as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Nearly
43,000 children reported it as a main or associated disabling
condition in 1998.
'Higher levels of diagnosis and heightened awareness among
parents, educators and health professionals may be the reasons
behind the increase in reporting of ADHD', Dr Wen said.
Rises in disability prevalence among the older working age
population reflected the passage of the post World War II baby-boom
generation as it moves progressively up the population pyramid.
'This group is currently in their forties and fifties and is
expected to affect future disability prevalence, especially the
55-64 year age group in the next 10 years', Dr Wen said.
'It's worth noting here the large rise in prevalence of
musculoskeletal disorders in the working age population (6% rising
to 8%) between 1993 and 1998. These disorders particularly affect
older working age groups, both men and women.'
The ageing of the population aged 65 years and over has had a
strong impact on prevalence of severe or profound restriction in
older people.
Of the 1.1 million Australians estimated to have a severe or
profound core activity restriction, 975,400 reported a
physical/diverse disability, 398,300 reported a psychiatric
disability, 301,900 an intellectual disability, 524,200 a
sensory/speech disability, and 113,300 an acquired brain
injury.
12 December 2003
Further information: Dr Xingyan Wen, AIHW, tel.
02 6244 1177, 0407 915 851
Ros Madden, AIHW, tel. 02 6244 1189
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, tel. 02 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW
Publications Catalogue for details.