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(Continued from page 1)
Based on the last published
National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS) conducted in 1993 by the U.S. Department
of Education, 40-44 million people in the U.S. are at the lowest level
of literacy meaning that these individuals read on a 5th grade level or
lower. (3,4) Although the most recent NALS conducted by the U.S. Department
of Education was in 2003; the survey results have not been reported to
date. One criticism of this survey is that it includes an over representation
of minorities and new immigrants, however, the majority of those surveyed
were white and born in the U.S.
Individuals who function at this level, are not able to comprehend materials that require basic reading proficiencies measured on 3 scales: 1) prose- ability to read and comprehend common languages; 2) document- ability to read maps and guides to find directions; and 3) quantitative- performing simple math calculations. (5) An example of functioning on the lowest literacy scale is the inability to understand many nutrition education materials. While millions of adult Americans are functioning at the lowest level of literacy, the average general reading level is between the 8th and 9th grade levels. (3) The National Work Group on Literacy and Health report on available patient education material. The group indicates that materials are written for individuals at the 10th grade level or higher. (3) This article will assist nutrition professionals in developing nutrition education materials that will effectively communicate with the public.
