More than half of American adults read below a sixth

( InvestigateTV ) — The number of American adults who read below a sixth-grade level is at its highest point ever, creating what experts call a “silent crisis” that affects the economy, health care and communities nationwide.

More than 50% of American adults read below the equivalent of a sixth-grade reading level, according to Andrew Roberts, president of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy .

“We call it a silent crisis because it’s not talked about that much,” Roberts said.

The problem extends beyond individual struggles.

In the Kansas City, Missouri, area alone, 680,000 adults have low literacy, ranging from a very basic understanding of words and phrases to no understanding at all.

Economic impact reaches trillions

People without strong reading skills struggle to