What is Social Anxiety Disorder?
University of California “Health Matters” program on Social Anxiety Disorder.
This is a terrific video providing an in depth discussion of social anxiety and social phobia, its causes and treatment.
How to help someone during a seizure?
If you have a family member, or a friend, with epilepsy or another seizure disorder, it can be scary and you may not know what to do when a seizure happens.
Scott Mehle, executive director of Tallahassee’s Epilepsy Association of the Big Bend, recently discussed this:
“They should just know what to do and not do when someone happens to have a seizure in public. Keeping the seizing person safe from injury is primary. Don’t restrain them. Don’t insert anything into their mouths . . . just gently turn them on their sides. Remove furniture or objects that are sharp or hard and cushion their heads,” he …
Brain Control Interface – 60 Minutes Video
Watch this 60 Minutes story on Scott Mackler, a man with almost total paralysis, who can communicate with a computer with just his thoughts using a BCI (Brain Control Interface).
Scott Mackler was a husband, father and successful neuroscientist when he received perhaps the worst news imaginable. At the age of 40, he could run a marathon in three and a half hours, but it was about that time he discovered he had ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Today, Scott Mackler’s mind is as sharp as ever, but his body has failed. Doctors call it “locked in” syndrome. Scott and his wife Lynn learned to communicate with about the only thing he has left, eye movement.To signal “yes,” Lynn says Scott looks at her; to …
Celiac Disease
Bob Kraft’s PISSD is one of my favorite disability blogs. Bob recently wrote an article about Celiac Disease awareness:
Celiac disease is a hereditary allergy to gluten. In its worst forms it can be crippling. But more and more doctors are becoming aware of this disease and making proper diagnosis of it in their patients. Until only a few years ago, the symptoms frequently went undiagnosed.
Having helped suffers of Celiac Disease with their Social Security cases in Colorado, I have seen first hand the impact of this condition and the difficulty trying to get Social Security to accept that it is disabling.
Here is an introduction to Celiac Disease and its symptoms:…
Social Security Rulings – an inside look at Social Security’s thought process
Gordon Gates has a great post tackling Social Security Rulings and how they can be used in a Social Security disability case:
Social Security Rulings are policy interpretations issued by the SSA. Social Security Rulings are binding on all components of the SSA, and are to be relied upon as precedents when adjudicating other cases. See 20 CFR 402.35(b)(1).
The value of the Rulings is that they explain how Social Security is supposed to interpret and apply its own regulations.
These are especially useful when you are writing an appeal and disagree with the Judge on a point of law. If you have a Ruling on your side showing that your interpretation is correct, you are much closer to winning your appeal.
Multiple Sclerosis – Faces of MS
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Social Security
A caller told me he considers Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) the Rodney Dangerfield of medical conditions: you get you no respect.
I could see his point. The condition is often misdiagnosed, treatment options may be limited, and it can often be difficult to get Social Security to approve a CFS claim.
But there is hope. The symptoms of CFS can be disabling:
Postexertional malaise (relapse of symptoms after physical or mental exertion);
Unrefreshing sleep;
Substantial impairment in memory/concentration;
Muscle pain;
Pain in multiple joints;
Headaches of a new type, pattern or severity;
Sore throat; and
Tender neck or armpit lymph nodes.
Fatigue and muscle pain can reduce exertional abilities (how much you can still lift/carry, & how long you can sit, stand, and walk). However, this may not be enough to find you disabled.
Video: Dean Kamen’s IBOT “Wheelchair” Power Chair
The IBOT is Dean Kamen’s on-road, off road, all terrain, stair climbing, power chair (“wheelchair”) which can also go into two wheel mode to raise the rider into a higher, more eye-level position.
It isn’t exactly new, but it is actually out in the real world; instead of being just some super cool prototype in a lab.
Here’s a nice clear, although in-lab, video showing the features:
BlazerCast for April 1: The IBot Mobility System – The best video clips are right here
Here is a real world video (poorer quality video but showing off road use):…
Video: More on Dean Kamen’s Luke Arm Prosthetic
I previously posted about Dean Kamen’s prosthetic arm.
That was just a teaser. Here is a new video showing you much more of what the arm can do.
