Disabilities fall under different categories depending on the manner of manifestation and the part of the body they affect the most. Different organizations may list varying categories when classifying disabilities. For example, the United Kingdom’s Individuals with Disabilities Education Act groups disabilities into thirteen categories, while the CPD Online College lists four categories.

Irrespective of the number of categories, it is vital that people know and understand these categories and the disabilities that fall into them. Knowing and understanding these various categories is essential to foster an inclusive society.

Over the next three weeks, we will be discussing the different categories of disabilities. We will explore those closest in manifestation, as they are often grouped in the same category. Furthermore, we will emphasize the challenges these disabilities pose and the accommodations affected individuals need to lead healthy lives.

Physical Disability

Physical disabilities impact a person’s mobility and agility (ability to handle objects). People with difficulty walking, standing, sitting, or controlling their muscles have a physical disability.

These disabilities can arise from genetics, injuries or accidents, illness, or side effects from medical conditions.

Examples of Physical Disability

There are several examples of physical disabilities, but some of the most common are:

1. Paraplegia:

Paraplegia is an impairment or complete loss of motor and sensory functions in the lower part of the body because of spinal cord damage. While this condition usually affects the legs, it can affect parts of the trunk and, sometimes, the arms.

The leading causes of paraplegia are accidents, falls, diseases like tumors, or infections. Depending on the causes, paraplegia can occur suddenly or gradually, as in the case of diseases and infections. Aside from mobility challenges, affected individuals may experience pressure sores, urinary and bowel dysfunction, and respiratory complications.

2. Spina Bifida:

Spina bifida is a neural tube defect during pregnancy caused by improper spine or spinal cord formation. Science has not been able to pinpoint the exact cause of this condition. However, genetic and environmental factors (like maternal folic acid deficiency) play a significant role in this condition.

While spina bifida is present from birth, there are variations in severity and types. The mildest form is Spina Bifida Occulta, where a layer of skin covers the malformation. On the other hand, the most severe type is myelomeningocele, where the spinal cord and membranes protrude and form a sac on the baby’s back.

Symptoms of this condition could be mild or severe, including paralysis or (hydrocephalus) fluid accumulation in the baby’s brain.

3. Cerebral Palsy:

Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that affects movement, musculature, and posture. CP usually occurs during pregnancy or shortly after birth for several reasons, including premature birth, lack of oxygen to the brain during birth, or genetic mutations.

Even though cerebral palsy is typically present at birth, it can take up to two years to diagnose this condition. This late diagnosis is common with children born in poor socio-economic conditions.

Cerebral palsy occurs in varying severity. The most common type is Spastic CP which affects some or all limbs and exaggerates motor reflexes. Dyskinetic CP can affect the face and tongue, while Ataxic CP makes it extremely difficult to perform simple tasks like picking up objects. One person can also suffer from a combination of all these types of cerebral palsy called Mixed CP.

Other physical disabilities are:

1. Muscular dystrophy (muscle weakness or loss)
2. Amputation (loss of a limb due to accidents or diseases like diabetes)

Treatment & Management of Physical Disabilities

Most physical disabilities are for life. However, affected individuals can still lead fulfilling lives through tailored treatment routines and comprehensive management approaches. Some of these approaches are:

1. Rehabilitation therapy and Adaptive Training focus on enhancing movement, strengthening muscles, improving coordination, and teaching adaptive techniques for daily tasks.
2. Assistive technologies, from wheelchairs and prosthetics to specialized computer software, help affected individuals navigate their environment and engage in daily activities.
3. Medication and Surgical intervention to help reduce pain or correct mild deformities.
4. Psychological support through support groups, community groups, and counseling can help these individuals cope with challenges and build resilience. This is most important for victims of accidents and other traumatic experiences.

Sensory Disability

Sensory disabilities are conditions that hamper the functioning of one or more sense organs. This category of disability covers visual impairments, hearing impairments, tactile dysfunction, anosmia, and ageusia. These impairments do not have to be complete loss or absence of the sense. Many people have minor variations of these impairments, the most common being visual impairments (people who wear glasses).

Sometimes, a person can suffer from dual sensory loss, where one person has impairments in multiple sense organs. A typical example is deafblindness (visual and hearing impairment).

Examples of Sensory Disability

Sensory disabilities cover a broad spectrum in varying intensities. These impairments influence the affected person’s daily life and interaction with their environment. Here are some prevalent examples.

1. Visual Impairment:

Visual impairments refer to the complete or substantial loss of sight. For affected persons, everyday activities like reading, recognizing faces, or moving from one place to another become arduous.

This impairment has several causes, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, or traumatic injury. Affected persons must rely on other senses or assistive technologies to manage their day-to-day lives.

2. Hearing Impairment:

Hearing impairments range from mild hearing loss to complete deafness. This impairment heavily impacts communication at any level as it becomes challenging to have conversations in groups or noisy environments.

Causes of hearing impairments include exposure to sudden loud noises, ototoxic drugs, infection, or genetics.

3. Tactile Dysfunction:

Another name for this impairment is abnormal touch perception, and it covers different conditions that hinder a person’s ability to perceive touch in standard ways. This impairment affects basic sensations to complex tasks that require delicate touch sensitivity.

This dysfunction has three main classes: hypoesthesia, paresthesia, and dysesthesia. A person with hypoesthesia would find it challenging to feel light touches or differentiate between varying textures. Common causes of hypoesthesia are nerve injuries, prolonged exposure to cold, or medical conditions like diabetes.

Paresthesia makes the affected person prone to an uncomfortable “pins and needles” sensation. It can be temporary, like when a limb ‘falls asleep’ or due to chronic conditions like nerve damage, carpal tunnel syndrome, or multiple sclerosis.

Dysesthesia manifests as spontaneous or evoked unpleasant, abnormal sensations. A person with this condition can report feeling a burning, wet, or itchy feeling, even when there are no external factors. Dysesthesia is linked with neurological conditions or nerve damage.

4. Anosmia

Anosmia is the loss of smell. This condition transcends beyond smelling freshly baked cookies; it can adversely affect daily life, safety, and overall quality of life, especially when it becomes permanent. Common causes of this impairment are nasal obstructions, infections like Upper Respiratory Infections and COVID-19, head trauma, exposure to toxic chemicals, or neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s.

Due to the close relationship between the olfactory and digestive systems, anosmia can affect the taste buds, diminishing the person’s ability to enjoy food and drink. In severe conditions, it can prevent a person from perceiving smoke and gas leaks which are life-threatening.

5. Ageusia

Ageusia is the inability to taste or a reduction in the ability to perceive different flavors. Although closely connected, this condition is different from anosmia and hypogeusia. These three conditions impact the sense of taste but in varying capacities.

The factors that cause this impairment are neurological disorders, damaged taste buds, radiation therapy, some medications, and viral infections like COVID-19. Aside from the inability to appreciate food, people who suffer from this condition are more likely to ingest excessive amounts of salt or sugar or eat spoiled food, contributing to health complications.

Treatment & Management of Sensory Disabilities

Thanks to advancements in technology and specialized care, there are several ways to manage sensory disabilities. Some management techniques include:

1. Assistive Devices like medicated glasses and braille displays for the visually impaired and hearing aids and cochlear implants for those with hearing impairments.
2. Visual rehabilitation and Auditory training to help affected individuals manage the level of remaining perception and use their assistive devices.
3. Depending on the sensory impairment, affected individuals can learn sign language or other tactile systems.
4. Procedures like cataract removal or other corrective surgeries can help to restore or improve sensory functions.
5. Peer groups, counseling, and educational programs can provide emotional support, guidance, and a community for affected individuals and their families.

A Step Further

Despite the categorization, most times, these disabilities occur alongside other disabilities or conditions. Occurrences like these can be tasking on the individual and their families, especially if they fall in the lower socio-economic classes.

Ideally, irrespective of the disability category, the best treatment/management approach combines several approaches. With dedicated resources and understanding, affected individuals can navigate the world confidently and lead fulfilled lives.

References:

• Buckinghamshire Care Advice. “Sensory Disabilities.” Accessed Sept. 3, 2023. https://careadvice.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing/health-conditions-disabilities/sensory-disabilities/
• Study.com. “Abnormal Sensations: Medical Terms — Esthesia & Paresthesia.” Accessed Sept. 3, 2023. https://study.com/learn/lesson/abnormal-sensations-medical-terms-esthesia-paresthesia.html
• Rutgers University, Department of Kinesiology and Health. “Physical Disabilities.” Accessed Sept. 3, 2023. https://kines.rutgers.edu/dshw/disabilities/physical/1060-physical-disabilities
• Cleveland Clinic. “Paraplegia.” Accessed Sept. 3, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/23984-paraplegia
• Wikipedia. “Physical Disability.” Accessed Sept. 3, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_disability