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“When looking at the overall population of persons with disabilities aged 15 years and older, there were variations in the age of onset and limitation for different types of disabilities. Overall, age of onset of physical disabilities (flexibility, dexterity, and mobility) occurred in a person’s 50s; pain-related, hearing, and memory disabilities occurred in their 40s; seeing disabilities occurred in their 30s; and learning and mental health-related disabilities occurred in their 20s (Table 1).
“For most disability types, the mean and median age of onset was approximately the same. The exception was learning disabilities, where the difference between mean and median was quite pronounced (13 years) and to a lesser degree mental health-related disabilities (6 years). This difference is likely a function of the high concentration of these disability types among younger age groups.”
Source: Morris, Stuart and McDiarmid, Carrly. (2021). “Age of Disability: From Onset to Limitation.” Canadian Survey on Disability Reports. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 89-654-X2021003.
“The age of limitation results showed a slightly different pattern than age of onset. While limitation due to physical disabilities still occurred in one’s 50s, hearing disabilities moved from onset in one’s late 40s to limitation in their 50s. Limitation due to pain-related and memory disabilities still occurred in one’s 40s, while seeing disabilities moved from onset in one’s 30s to limitation in their 40s. Limitation due to learning disabilities still occurred in one’s 20s, while mental health-related disabilities moved from onset in a person’s late 20s, to limitation in their early 30s. For most disability types, the mean and median yielded approximately the same ages. The exception again was learning disabilities where the difference between mean and median was 11 years and mental health-related disabilities to a lesser degree (four years).
“The mean interval4 from age of onset to age of limitation further highlights important variations by disability type. The shortest delay from onset to limitation occurred for flexibility, dexterity, mobility, and memory disabilities at around one year. The longest period occurred for seeing disabilities, with a mean delay of eight years from onset to limitation. Hearing and mental health-related disabilities also had relatively long delays, with a mean delay of approximately four years, while pain-related and learning disabilities averaged around two years from onset to limitation.”
Source: Morris, Stuart and McDiarmid, Carrly. (2021). “Age of Disability: From Onset to Limitation.” Canadian Survey on Disability Reports. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 89-654-X2021003.
Health Systems Facts is a project of the Real Reporting Foundation. We provide reliable statistics and other data from authoritative sources regarding health systems in the US and sixteen other nations.
Page last updated Sept. 11, 2022 by Doug McVay, Editor.
