2.5 Examples of physical disabilities
- Barry Smith
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Definition: A progressive motor neuron disease leading to muscle weakness, atrophy, and loss of voluntary movement control.
Symptoms:
Weakness in muscles for movement, speech, swallowing, or breathing.
Muscle twitching (fasciculations) and cramps.
"Thick speech" and voice projection issues in later stages.
Impaired use of limbs.
Employment Challenges:
Physical limitations in movement or communication.
Difficulty managing workplace stress.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD)
Definition: A neurobehavioral disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity.
Subtypes:
Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive: Fidgeting, excessive talking, interrupting, impatience.
Predominantly Inattentive: Distractibility, disorganization, trouble following instructions, missed details.
Combined Type: Characteristics of both hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive types.
Symptoms:
Inattention: Wandering off task, lack of persistence, disorganization.
Hyperactivity: Excessive movement, restlessness, or constant activity.
Impulsivity: Acting without thinking, interrupting others, seeking instant gratification.
Employment Challenges:
Struggling to sustain focus and organize tasks.
Social intrusions or impulsive decisions.
Bradyphrenia
Definition: Slowed thinking processes, often associated with Parkinson's disease.
Symptoms:
Difficulty maintaining topic in conversations.
Struggles with processing fast-paced communication.
Delays in responding to new information due to slower cognitive processing.
Impact: Can lead to communication breakdowns, especially in work settings.
Burns
Causes: Exposure to thermal, chemical, electrical, or radioactive agents.
Severity: Classified by degree:
First-degree: Epidermis only (superficial).
Second-degree: Epidermis and dermis (partial thickness).
Third-degree: Full thickness to epidermis, dermis, and appendages.
Fourth-degree: Extends to muscle and bone.
Employment Challenges:
Fatigue, infection susceptibility, limited lifting, temperature sensitivity, and social challenges from scarring.
Complex Regional Pain Disorder (CRPS)
Definition: Chronic progressive pain disorder, often affecting an arm or leg.
Types:
Type I: No nerve lesion (e.g., Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy).
Type II: Nerve damage present (Causalgia).
Symptoms: Severe pain, swelling, skin changes, and autonomic dysfunction.
Employment Challenges:
Daily living activity limitations, depression, fatigue, muscle pain, and stiffness.
Diabetes Mellitus
Definition: Disease where blood glucose levels are elevated due to insufficient or ineffective insulin.
Types:
Type 1: Autoimmune, insulin-dependent, common in children/young adults.
Type 2: Insulin resistance, associated with aging, obesity, and inactivity.
Gestational Diabetes: Develops during pregnancy; increases risk of Type 2 diabetes later.
Other Types: Rare forms from genetics, surgery, or other conditions.
Complications: Heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, amputations.
Employment Challenges:
Hypo/hyperglycemia, neuropathy, vision impairment, fatigue, cognitive limitations, psychological effects.
Hearing Issues/Deafness
Types of Hearing Loss:
Sensorineural: Damage to cilia in the cochlea or auditory nerve; treated with hearing aids or cochlear implants.
Conductive: Outer/middle ear issues (e.g., infections, ruptured tympanic membrane); treated with medication or surgery.
Mixed: Combination of sensorineural and conductive loss; address conductive issues first.
Employment Challenges:
Difficulty communicating (face-to-face, in groups, via phone).
Challenges responding to environmental sounds.
Safety concerns (vehicles, wearing hearing protection).
Herniated Disc
Definition: Tear in the outer covering of an intervertebral disc, causing nerve root pressure and pain.
Causes: Falls, heavy lifting, aging, obesity.
Employment Challenges:
Fatigue/weakness.
Gross motor impairment.
HIV/AIDS
Definition: Immune system disease caused by HIV, progressing from flu-like symptoms to immune system deterioration.
Complications: Opportunistic infections, tumors, neurological issues.
Employment Challenges:
Fatigue, chronic diarrhea, cognitive issues, vision impairment, respiratory difficulties, neurological complications, skin infections, weight loss, psychological effects.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Definition: Autoimmune disease causing nerve fiber damage and impaired nerve impulse transmission.
Types:
Benign, Relapsing Remitting, Secondary Progressive, Primary Progressive, Progressive Relapsing, Malignant (Marburg variant).
Symptoms: Cognitive, motor (fine/gross), speech, vision impairments, heat sensitivity, fatigue.
Employment Challenges:
Fatigue/weakness, cognitive/motor impairments, heat sensitivity.
Parkinson’s Disease (PD)
Definition: Degenerative CNS disorder from dopamine cell death in the midbrain.
Symptoms:
Motor: Tremors, rigidity, bradykinesia (slowness), gait difficulties.
Non-Motor: Cognitive decline, dementia, sensory, emotional, and sleep disturbances.
Causes/Risks: Unknown; associated with pesticides, reduced risk in smokers.
Employment Challenges:
Cognitive slowing, reduced organizational skills, verbal fluency issues, inflexible behavior.
Repetitive Strain Disorders (RSI)
Definition: Injuries caused by repetitive tasks, force, awkward positions, vibrations, or mechanical compression.
Examples: Carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, thoracic outlet syndrome.
Causes: Repeated motion, friction causing swelling, inflammation, nerve impingement.
Diagnosis: X-rays, cortisone injections, Electromyography (EMG).
Employment Challenges:
Fatigue/weakness.
Fine/gross motor impairment.
Temperature sensitivity.
Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI)
Definition: Trauma-induced injury to the spinal cord, ranging from pain to paralysis.
Types:
Incomplete (partial loss of function).
Complete (total loss of function).
Complications:
Paraplegia: Pressure sores, thrombosis, depression, bladder/bowel incontinence, circulation disorders.
Quadriplegia: Impairments in digestion, breathing, sexual function, numbness, neuropathic pain.
Employment Challenges:
Wheelchair access issues (desk height, physical access).
Limited hand/arm function (holding phone, keyboard use, managing papers).
Adjustments for personal care routines.
Stroke (CVA)
Definition: Acute brain damage from blood vessel issues, causing disability.
Types:
Ischemic Stroke:
Thrombolic: Gradual blockage by material buildup.
Embolic: Sudden blockage by material in the bloodstream.
Hemorrhagic Stroke: Burst aneurysm or blood vessel leak causing pressure and swelling.
Side-Specific Effects:
Right-Side CVA: Left-side body issues, reduced attention span, neglect, visual/spatial problems.
Left-Side CVA: Right-side body issues, aphasia, memory problems, slow behavior.
Employment Challenges:
Cognitive impairments (concentration, memory, problem-solving).
Motor limitations (weakness/paralysis, balance, coordination).
Communication challenges (speech/language impairments).
Physical stamina and stress management.
Traumatic (Acquired) Brain Injury (TBI)
Definition:
TBI: Brain damage from direct trauma (e.g., accidents).
Acquired Brain Injury: Includes TBI and non-traumatic causes (e.g., infection, stroke, tumor).
Affected Brain Areas and Functions:
Right Hemisphere: Perceptual skills, functional communication (memory, problem-solving).
Left Hemisphere: Verbal/logical functions (language, memory).
Frontal Lobe: Problem-solving, organization, behavior inhibition, attention.
Cerebellum: Balance, coordination, motor activity.
Occipital Lobe: Vision.
Parietal Lobe: Touch, object manipulation, perception.
Brain Stem: Breathing, heart rate, sleep, attention, blood pressure.
Temporal Lobe: Memory, hearing, language comprehension.
Employment Challenges:
Physical/visual limitations.
Concentration, organization, memory deficits.
Stress/emotion management.
Attendance and stamina issues.
Cancer
Definition: Malignant tumors with uncontrolled growth affecting various body parts.
Causes: Genetics, environmental exposure (e.g., chemicals, radiation), lifestyle (e.g., smoking, diet).
Employment Challenges:
Fatigue, respiratory difficulties, temperature sensitivity.
Stress and allowances for medical treatments.
Cardiovascular Disease
Types:
Valvular Heart Disease: Damage to heart valves, often from rheumatic fever.
Myocardiopathy: Weak heart muscles due to infection, toxins, or diabetes.
Angina Pectoris: Chest pain from oxygen imbalance.
Hypertensive Heart Disease: Linked to high blood pressure or other conditions.
Myocardial Infarction: Heart attack caused by blocked blood flow to the heart.
Congestive Heart Failure: Enlarged heart chambers and fluid retention.
Arrhythmia: Irregular heart rhythm (slow or fast).
Pulmonary Vascular Disease: Damage to blood vessels between heart and lungs.
Employment Challenges:
Fatigue, respiratory difficulties, stress, temperature sensitivity.
Asthma
Definition: Chronic inflammatory disease of the airways causing wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath.
Triggers: Pollution, allergens, medications (e.g., aspirin), physical activity.
Employment Challenges:
Fatigue and avoiding environmental triggers.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
Definition: Brain and physical defects due to alcohol exposure during pregnancy.
Effects:
Permanent brain damage, cognitive disabilities, behavioral issues.
Physical signs: Smooth skin between nose and lip, thin upper lip, small eye openings.
Employment Challenges:
Intellectual Limitations: Reading, writing, math, task completion, memory.
Motor Limitations: Computer/telephone use, object handling.
Social Limitations: Emotional support, coworker interaction, supervisor relations.
Eating Disorders
Anorexia Nervosa
Key Characteristics: Restriction of food intake, intense fear of weight gain, distorted body image, loss of menstrual periods.
Age of Onset: Early to mid-adolescence.
Employment Issues: Attendance, maintaining concentration, managing emotions, fatigue, stress, malnutrition.
Bulimia Nervosa
Key Characteristics: Binge eating with compensatory behaviors (vomiting, laxatives, over-exercising), preoccupation with weight/shape.
Prevalence: Affects 1-2% of adolescent/young adult women.
Employment Issues: Same as anorexia nervosa.
Binge Eating Disorder (BED)
Key Characteristics: Frequent binge eating without compensatory behaviors, feelings of guilt or disgust.
Prevalence: 1-5% of the population.
Employment Issues: Similar to other eating disorders.
Crohn’s Disease
Key Characteristics: Chronic inflammation of the digestive tract, leading to abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and fatigue.
Treatment: No cure; therapies aim for symptom reduction and remission.
Employment Issues: Frequent restroom use, physical job demands, workplace stress, working while undergoing treatment.
Raynaud's Disease
Key Characteristics: Artery spasms causing reduced blood flow, affecting fingers, toes, and occasionally other extremities. Triggers include cold and stress.
Employment Issues: Sensitivity to cold, fine motor impairment, stress intolerance, fatigue, concentration issues.
Epilepsy
Key Characteristics: Recurring seizures caused by abnormal brain activity; seizures may be generalized, focal, or of unknown onset.
Treatment: Medication, surgery, or dietary changes in refractory cases.
Employment Issues:
Cognitive: Memory, time management, stress.
Motor: Balancing, climbing, driving.
Sensory: Photosensitivity, hearing/visual impairments.
General: Fatigue, safety in the workplace.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Key Characteristics: Immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system, causing muscle weakness, tingling, and possible paralysis (legs, arms, face, chest).
Severity: Life-threatening in severe cases; most recover fully but may experience lingering weakness.
Employment Issues: Fatigue, muscle weakness, impaired use of hands, legs, and feet.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Key Characteristics: Chronic neurodegenerative condition causing memory loss, disorientation, mood changes, and declining bodily functions.
Progression: Average life expectancy post-diagnosis is 3–9 years.
Employment Issues: Memory, time management, difficulty performing tasks.
Spondylosis
Key Characteristics: Age-related spinal degeneration, leading to nerve compression, pain, weakness, and sensory disturbances.
Types: Cervical (neck) and lumbar (lower back) spondylosis.
Employment Issues: Fatigue, motor impairments, pain management, balance, and sleep disturbances.
Visual Impairment
Key Characteristics: Decreased vision affecting daily activities like reading, mobility, and distinguishing colors.
Causes: Refractive errors, cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and cortical visual impairment.
Employment Issues: Accessing printed/computer materials, mobility, and managing light sensitivity.
Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
Key Characteristics: Genetic disease causing thick mucus in lungs, pancreas, and other organs, leading to respiratory and digestive issues.
Life Expectancy: Average age is 37, with improvements in care extending lifespan.
Employment Issues: Fatigue, frequent health monitoring, managing respiratory and digestive symptoms.