Codes and Frequencies
Description
For sample adults 18 and over who reported having a voice, swallowing, speech, or language problem in the past 12 months (VSLVYR, VSLSWYR, VSLSPYR, VSLLGYR), VSLDIAG identifies those respondents who were given a diagnosis for their voice, swallowing, speech, or language problem.
This variable is part of the Adult Voice, Speech, and Language Supplement, first included in the NHIS survey in 2012. The interviewer prefaced the supplement with the normative statement, "These next questions are about problems with your voice, swallowing, speech, or language. Please do not tell us about problems that resulted from drinking alcohol or were caused by use of illicit drugs."
The Adult Voice, Speech and Language Supplement is the first-ever large scale communication supplement included in the NHIS survey. It includes data about causes, age of onset, severity, and healthcare utilization in relation to voice, swallowing, speech, and language problems or difficulties.
Starting in 2022, this variable is a part of the Adult and Child Voice, Swallowing, Speech, and Language Communication Disorders section of sponsored content. These questions aim to capture sample persons that experience one or more problems with their voice, swallowing, speech, or language. These questions are sponsored by the National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Important terms to understand for these questions that are listed in the Field Representative Manual include:
- Language Disorders: any problem with verbal communication and the ability to use or understand a symbol system for communication.
- Speech Disorders: any defect or abnormality that prevents an individual from communicating by means of spoken words. These may develop from nerve injury to the brain, muscular paralysis, structural defects, hysteria, or intellectual disability, also known as mental retardation.
- Speech-Language Pathologist: health professional trained to evaluate and treat people who have voice, speech, swallowing, or language disorders (including hearing impairment) that affect their ability to communicate.
- Swallowing Disorders: any of a group of problems that interferes with the transfer of food from the mouth to the stomach. Voice Disorders are a group of problems involving abnormal pitch, loudness, or quality of the sound produced by the larynx (voice box).
In a subsequent question, respondents who had had a diagnosed voice, swallowing, speech, or language problem that lasted for a week or longer were asked to specify the category of their problem:
- VSLVDIAG indicates diagnosed voice problem
- VSLSWDIAG indicates diagnosed swallowing problem
- VSLSPDIAG indicates diagnosed speech problem
- VSLLGDIAG indicates diagnosed language problem
After ascertaining the general category of the problem, the respondent who had had a diagnosed voice, swallowing, speech, or language problem that lasted for a week or longer was asked about specific causes of their diagnosed voice, swallowing, speech, and/or language problems.
For voice problems:
- VSLVMISUSE: voice problem caused by laryngitis caused by voice misuse, abuse, or overuse
- VSLVCOLD: voice problem caused by laryngitis caused by colds/strep
- VSLVNODULE: voice problem caused by vocal nodules or polyps
- VSLVGERD: voice problem caused by gastro-esophageal reflux disease
- VSLVALLER: voice problem caused by allergies
- VSLVAIR: voice problem caused by airborne irritants or environmental pollutants
- VSLVINJURY: voice problem caused by head/neck injury
- VSLVCANCER: voice problem caused by cancer anywhere in the head, neck, or throat
- VSLVNEURO: voice problem caused by neurological problem (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, dementia, etc.)
- VSLVRX: voice problem caused by prescription medication or drugs
- VSLVOTHER: voice problem caused by some other cause
- VSLVDUR: duration of voice problems, in the last 12 months.
- VSLVDIFF: amount of difficulty with voice problem, in last 12 months.
For swallowing problems:
- VSLSWSTROKE: swallowing problem caused by stroke
- VSLSWNEURO: swallowing problem caused by neurological problem (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, post-polio syndrome, dementia, etc.)
- VSLSWCANCER: swallowing problem caused by cancer anywhere in the head, neck, or throat
- VSLSWCOPD: swallowing problem caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- VSLSWCHF: swallowing problem caused by congestive heart failure
- VSLSWINJURY: swallowing problem caused by head/neck injury
- VSLSWARTH: swallowing problem caused by arthritic changes in the neck (arthritis, cervical osteophyte)
- VSLSWADAGE: swallowing problem caused by advancing age (deterioration of muscle function with age/sarcopenia)
- VSLSWRX: swallowing problem caused by prescription medication or drugs
- VSLSWOTHER: swallowing problem caused by some other cause
- VSLSWDUR: duration of swallowing problems, in the last 12 months.
- VSLSWDIFF: amount of difficulty with swallowing problem, in last 12 months.
For speech problems:
- VSLSPHEAR: speech problem caused by hearing loss or deafness
- VSLSPDISOR: speech problem caused by developmental speech sound disorder (phonological, articulatory dyspraxia)
- VSLSPCP: speech problem caused by cerebral palsy
- VSLSPSTRUC: speech problem caused by cleft lip/palate, cranial-facial anomaly (structural cause)
- VSLSPINJURY: speech problem caused by head/neck injury
- VSLSPSTUTT: speech problem caused by stuttering
- VSLSPCANCER: speech problem caused by cancer anywhere in the head, neck, or throat
- VSLSPNEURO: speech problem caused by neurological cause/dysarthria (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS, multiple sclerosis, dementia, etc.)
- VSLSPRX: speech problem caused by prescription medication or drugs
- VSLSPOTHER: speech problem caused by some other cause
- VSLSPDUR: duration of speech problems, in the last 12 months.
- VSLSPDIFF: amount of difficulty with speech problem, in last 12 months.
- VSLSPTROUB: if speech problems led to stuttering, trouble pronouncing words correctly, or both.
For language problems:
- VSLLGHEAR: problems understanding words or sentences caused by hearing loss or deafness
- VSLLGGENE: problems understanding words or sentences caused by genetic syndrome (Down syndrome, fragile X syndrome, etc.)
- VSLLGID: problems understanding words or sentences caused by intellectual disability, also known as mental retardation
- VSLLGAUT: problems understanding words or sentences caused by autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- VSLLGDLLD: problems understanding words or sentences caused by developmental language-learning disorder (e.g. Specific Language Impairment (SLI), learning disability, or dyslexia)
- VSLLGDD: problems understanding words or sentences caused by other developmental delay
- VSLLGINJURY: problems understanding words or sentences caused by head injury, traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- VSLLGSTROKE: problems understanding words or sentences caused by stroke/aphasia
- VSLLGNEURO: problems understanding words or sentences caused by dementia or other neurological cause (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, etc.)
- VSLLGRX: problems understanding words or sentences caused by prescription medication or drugs
- VSLLGOTHER: problems understanding words or sentences caused by other problem
- VSLLGDUR: duration of language problems, in the last 12 months.
- VSLLGDIFF: amount of difficulty with language problem, in last 12 months.
For information about voice, swallowing, speech, or language problems:
- VSLINTERNET indicates if the respondent got information from the Internet about health, medical treatments, or rehabilitation services for voice, swallowing, speech, and/or language problems in the past 12 months
- VSLINFOindicates which of the problems the respondent got information about (voice/swallowing/speech/problems using or understanding words or sentences) in the past 12 months
- VSLWRITTEN indicates if this information was written by a doctor, other health professional, medical association, or other health-related organization
- VSLHELPFULindicates how helpful the information on the Internet was
- VSLHEADINJ indicates if voice, swallowing, speech, or language problem is due to a head injury, brain injury, or stroke.
- VSLHELP indicates if sample person saw a health care professional for their voice, swallowing, speech, or language problem in the last 12 months.
- VSLRSLT indicates if the change in quality of life after seeking treatment for voice, swallowing, speech, or language problem.
- VSLBTRWRS indicates if voice, swallowing, speech, or language problem has gotten worse or better in the last 12 months.
Universe
- 2012: Sample adults 18+ who have had a voice, swallowing, speech or language problem in the past 12 months or who have ever had a voice, swallowing, speech or language problem
Availability
- 2012
Weights
- 2012 : SAMPWEIGHT
