Time Reference of a Difficulty

The WG-SS questions do not address the duration of difficulties. Through testing, the WG determined that when people answer the Short Set questions, they usually think of the difficulties they have in their typical state. For example, if someone usually has no difficulty in walking but currently has a broken leg – and thus has temporary difficulty in walking – they tend to answer no difficulty because in their usual state, they do not have any difficulty walking: once the cast is removed, they will return to their normal state of functioning.  

However, some respondents may answer that they do have difficulty walking, even if that difficulty is expected to be temporary. The WG considers this to be less of a problem than the confusion caused in the minds of respondents when given a question that includes a clause referring to duration.

Duration of difficulty. Avoid specifying the duration when asking about difficulties. Country example. Difficulties you may have for at least 6 months because of a health problem. Do you have difficulty: 1) Seeing even if wearing glasses. 2) Hearing even if using a hearing aid. 3) Talking. 4) Walking or climbing steps. 5) Remembering or concentrating. 6) Self-care. 7) Communication. 8) Other. 9) No difficulty. Degree of difficulty: 1) Some difficulty. 2) A Lot of difficulty. 3) Cannot do at all.

Furthermore, modifying the questions to direct the respondent to answer only in terms of their usual functioning involves adding a long, complex introductory section, or complicating qualifying clauses. Testing has shown that the errors from misinterpreting references to duration were larger than the occasional reporting of a temporary disability. Moreover, even people with temporary disabilities face barriers to participation at the time they are interviewed. Individuals who answer in this way are also temporarily at risk of participation restrictions and in need of accommodations.