Physical Disabilities

Recently Answered

• QWhat is the difference between paraplegia and quadriplegia?

  2 Answers

  A

  

  A Jumo Health answered

  Paraplegia is when people cannot feel or move their legs and feet due to a spinal cord injury. Paraplegia occurs after a spinal cord injury to the lower back, which prevents the brain from communicating with the parts of the body below the injury.

  Quadriplegia, also known as tetraplegia, is when people cannot feel or move their arms and legs due to a spinal cord injury. Quadriplegia/tetraplegia occurs after a spinal cord injury to the neck or upper back, where the damage prevents the brain from communicating with the rest of the body.

  See All 2 Answers
• QHow are speech impairments diagnosed?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Dr. Jeanne Morrison, PhD , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Sigma Nursing

  Children and adults who are suspected of having speech impairments will have their speech evaluated by a speech-language pathologist. Sometimes an exam that includes speech and language tests and a discussion of medical history with this expert is enough to diagnose a condition, while other times further testing into the causes of speech impairment is necessary. For instance, hearing tests may be performed to see if hearing loss is the cause of the impairment.

• QHow can an electric door opener help me if I have a disability?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered

  For maximum independence if you have a disability, you can install an electric door opener. If you are unable to turn keys or open or close doors, an electric door opener opens the door for you with a remote control or keypad. And when you are inside, you can open the door remotely, “buzzing” in your guests, just like you might at an apartment entry. These devices can even be operated by pressure sensitive mats or whisper devices for the severely disabled. Electric door openers tend to be on the expensive side, however.
• QWhat adaptations may be needed when a person with paraplegia goes diving?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Diveheart answered

  People with paraplegia who engage in adaptive scuba diving have little or no ability to kick in order to maintain their position in the water. This is why it is important that they master their buoyancy. Adaptive divers need to understand the various techniques and tools that can help them safely and effectively control buoyancy despite the inability to use foot fins. Note that a mobility-impaired diver who is a complete paraplegic will have no sensation or movement below the level of the injury, where an incomplete paraplegic may have varying degrees of movement, sensation and the ability to ambulate or walk.
  
  There are many variations of arm or leg impairments, so it’s important to assess the mobility of the individual early on to determine the level of assistance, if any, needed.
• QHow can an outdoor stair lift help me if I can't get up stairs alone?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered

  If you are still mobile but need assistance getting up the stairs from your driveway to a porch, deck, or raised entryway, an outdoor stair lift may be the answer. Just sit in the seat and let it raise you to the next level.
• QHow can a door closer help me if I have a disability?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered

  Once you are through the door, does your wheelchair, walker, or scooter make it difficult to reach the door knob and pull the door closed? You could tie a cord or rope around the door knob and fasten it to a hook mounted at a handy place that you can reach. Or, if you prefer something a little nicer-looking, a door closer is an inexpensive solution that is durable, flexible, and almost invisible. One end hooks around the door knob, while the other slips into a holder on the door where it is easy to reach and gives you good leverage for pulling the door closed. You can also remove the puller and take it with you to use on other doors while you are away from home. 
• QHow can automatic lighting help me if I have a disability?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered

  If you have a disability, make sure you can see where you are going by installing automatic lighting. Motion sensor lights, readily available at hardware and home improvement stores, can be easily installed with a few simple tools. Once you are inside, sound and voice activated lights can be turned on and off at will as you move through the house. There are also whole-house control systems that allow you to turn lights on and off throughout the house using a master control or a remote, the latter being nice when leaving or returning home in the dark. Look for these at home improvement or lighting stores. If you have a home security system, ask the company if they have a compatible lighting system. 
• QHow can a keyless entry lock help me if I have a disability?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered

  Getting in the door is easier if you do not have to fumble with keys due to your disability. Today, there are many alternatives. You can go hi-tech and punch a code into a keypad or use a one-button remote control, similar to the one that opens newer cars. Some can even open the door for you. Ask a locksmith, your security system company, or a home improvement store about the many options available. Also, you can search “keyless locks” on the web.
   
  If the old-fashioned way is good enough for you, there are key turners with built-up handles that give you greater leverage and make turning keys easier.
• QHow can a vertical platform lift help me if I have a disability?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered

  If you have a disability and the entry to your home is particularly high and a long ramp impractical, a vertical platform lift might be a solution. The lift works like an elevator to raise a wheelchair or scooter, plus a companion, smoothly and effortlessly up and down from driveway to entryway, patio to porch, etc... It can work from four feet to up to 14 feet in height. A lift, powered by battery or household current, is durable indoors or outdoors for even the harshest winter weather and really levels the playing field for someone living in a multi-level situation. 
• QHow can a level step at my entranceway help me if I have a disability?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered

  Often the most significant barrier for people with disabilities getting into and out of the home is the entranceway itself. Level or slightly sloped sidewalks and driveways will make access to the home easier, whether you have a visual or physical disability or not. If your current home has a step to the front door, can you remove the barrier by changing the landscaping and replacing the step with a gentle slope? Ask a landscaper for ideas.