Ataxia is an impaired neurological condition of the body that affects the muscles. Ataxia is a symptom, not a specific disease. Areas that are affected commonly include:
• Physical coordination – various areas of the body are affected, particularly walking
• Balance – ability to undertake normal skills such as walking and stepping may be extremely difficult or impossible
• Movement abilities – ability to walk, move the limbs, extend or reach with the limbs, gesture
• Speech – dysarthria – ability to form words and speak
• Eye movements – nystagmus, or ability look from left to right, up and down, etc.
• Ability to bend down, stoop, grasp object – affects ability to pick up objects from the floor, tie shoes, etc.
Unfortunately, there is no known cure for Ataxia, but there are methods to manage and mildly rehabilitate those living with this condition. These methods are as follows:
Physical Therapy
Movement Therapy
Speech Therapy
Balance skills enhancement
Improvement has been shown through through chiropractic, massage, and acupuncture treatment.
According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), nearly 7,000 rare diseases affect close to 30 million Americans. Applying for long-term disability benefits can be especially difficult if you have an uncommon condition because you need to document the existence of specific symptoms of a medically determinable rare disease. Currently, many people with rare diseases experience devastating delays, most up to three years, because those making the decisions are less familiar with such diseases and their debilitating capacities.
Social Security Administration’s Compassionate Allowances (CAL) is a recent initiative that was designed to fast-track Social Security disability applications for 25 rare diseases and 25 cancers that are deemed to be severe. CAL criteria and conditions were developed due to information received at public outreach hearings, comments received from the Social Security and Disability Determination Service communities, counsel of medical and scientific experts and research with the National Institutes of Health. A few of the conditions that have been included in the initiative are ataxia telangiectasia, numerous cancers and early-onset Alzheimers disease.
Unfortunately, there is a giant number of rare diseases that didn’t make CAL’s cut. Getting long-term disability coverage for rare yet painful and debilitating diseases like carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia and Lyme disease remains difficult, largely because the Blue Book that is used as a reference when determining whether a person with a condition qualifies for coverage does not put as much focus on such rare diseases and their symptoms – therefore making them subjective and difficult to prove.
Ataxia is a neurological condition that impairs the voluntary movements of the muscles, affecting the way a person walks, runs, bends over, stoops, grasps objects, or performs daily tasks. Often times, Ataxia sufferers are unable to work efficiently, making it difficult to earn an income. People who are unaffected by the condition are unaware of the extent of the disability, making it difficult on the Ataxia sufferer and the work environment in general. Insurance providers who carry Ataxia policies, often deny claims based on the fact that the condition is a subjective matter and difficult to measure the impact on your ability to work. Fortunately, Ataxia sufferers can obtain long term disability benefits to cover bills and other expenses.
Common side effects of the condition include:
Physical coordination – various areas of the body are affected, particularly walking
Balance – ability to undertake normal skills such as walking and stepping may be extremely difficult or impossible
Movement abilities – ability to walk, move the limbs, extend or reach with the limbs, gesture
Speech – dysarthria – ability to form words and speak
Eye movements – nystagmus, or ability look from left to right, up and down, etc.
Ability to bend down, stoop, grasp object – affects ability to pick up objects from the floor, tie shoes, etc.
Ataxia presents itself in two forms: hereditary and acute.
Hereditary Ataxia depends on the hereditary disorders of the cerebellum. Those with this form often experience a slow development of their symptoms over several years, with the underlying condition most commonly caused by issues with genes.
Acute Ataxia sufferers experience a sudden onset of symptoms, most commonly after significant trauma, injury or the development of another health condition such as a stroke or infection of the brain. Acute ataxia often times occurs due to radiation poisoning.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a specific treatment for ataxia, although doctors have been able to treat the underlying factors attributed to the condition. If you suffer from Ataxia and are unable to work, it may become difficult to pay for bills and related expenses. Ataxia disability attorneys, Burke, Harvey & Frankowski, LLC are seasoned LTD lawyers who will fight for the disability benefits that you are entitled to.
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