Low Literacy Levels More Popular Than Heart Disease
"More people are affected by low literacy in the U.S. than are diagnosed with cancer or heart disease." Illiteracy affects a person's ability to fully participate and contribute within society. About 18-21% of the U.S. adult population is functionally illiterate. This means that reading and writing to the fullest extent are inhibited. This percentage would be around 43 million U.S. adults. Globally, the impact is even more severe. Over 774 million people ages 15 and older are illiterate. Of these statistical figures, over two-thirds are female. Africa, Southern Asia, Western Asia, and Oceania have the highest rates of illiteracy. According to a study from Ballard Brief, Hispanics, the elderly, and incarcerated people are more likely to have a low literacy rate compared to other U.S. adults. Fluency within cultures are important to emphasize. Illiteracy does not necessarily affect social interactions at the minimal level. In fact, slang and cultural language disposition ...