DISABILITY IN LATE ADOLESCENCE .2. FOLLOW-UP OF PERCEIVED LIMITATION

The disabilities experienced by a large cohort of 18-year-olds have be en reported in the previous paper of this series. In this paper, we pr esent the results of a detailed examination of the extent to which the disabilities caused limitation in the everyday activities of this gro up of young people. The results showed that nearly three-quarters of t he members of the sample reported having one or more difficulties in p erforming activities in their daily lives, though the extent of limita tion on their activities was low for most adolescents. Of this group w ho reported any type of disablement, 23% indicated it imposed very lit tle general limitation on their lives (on a five point scale) and 6% r ated it at the highest degree of limitation. Approximately half those with a disability felt the condition was improving, but 28% required a n aid or help from another person. From 8% to 11% of those with a disa bility rated it as serious in relation to aspects of their daily livin g (education, leisure, social and work) and about half of those with a serious degree of limitation had sought help. The most common disabil ities related to behaviour, communication and situations, for example environmental factors. As part of an ongoing study, the results provid e a base from which to examine the extent and severity of disability a mong young people and change in disability as a result of the ageing p rocess.