Engaging With Other People Face To Face
Provide details of any difficulties you may have in understanding body language or establishing relationships, or assistance you may require to interact with other people in a socially acceptable manner.
If you have problems in misreading situations, and need assistance to aid your understanding, provide as much information as you can.
If you also have a sight impairment explain if you need help to identify people in a room, so that you know who you are speaking to, or if you need to be told if someone has joined or left the group. If you also have hearing loss, explain the help you require to hear what is being said and how often this happens.
What Research Is Being Done
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke , one of the National Institutes of Health , is the primary federal supporter of research on brain and nervous system disorders. NINDS conducts research in its laboratories at the NIH in Bethesda, Maryland, and supports research through grants to major medical institutions across the country. In addition to NINDS, other NIH Institutes support research on spina bifida and neural tube defects.
Genetic studies. In one study supported by NINDS, scientists are looking at the hereditary basis of neural tube defects and hope to find the genetic factors that make some children more likely to have a neural tube defect. These researchers are also studying gene expression during the process of normal neural tube closure, which will provide information on the human nervous system during development. Findings may lead to ways to prevent these disorders.
In addition, NINDS-supported scientists are working to identify, characterize, and evaluate genes involved in neural tube defects. The goal is to understand the genetics of neural tube closure and to develop information that will lead to improved clinical care, treatment, and genetic counseling.
Other scientists are studying genetic risk factors for spina bifida, especially those that reduce the effectiveness of folic acid in preventing spina bifida. This study will shed light on how folic acid prevents spina bifida and may lead to improved forms of folate supplements.
Burial In A Va National Cemetery
VA national cemetery burial benefits depend on the nature and duration of military service. A veteran who dies on active duty is eligible. So are those who served a minimum amount of time-in-service, those who have any discharge besides Dishonorable, and qualifying family members.
The VA official site states that VA burial benefits include burial with the Veteran, perpetual care, and the spouse or dependents name and date of birth and death will be inscribed on the Veterans headstone, at no cost to the family according to the VA official site.
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How Does Folic Acid Help
Folic acid, also called folate, is an important vitamin for the development of a healthy fetus. Although taking this vitamin cannot guarantee having a healthy baby, it can help. Studies show that women of childbearing age who add folic acid to their diets can significantly reduce the risk of having a child with a neural tube defect. Therefore, it is recommended that all women of childbearing age take a daily vitamin supplement with 400 micrograms of folic acid before and during early pregnancy.
Foods high in folic acid include dark green vegetables, egg yolks, and some fruits. Many foodssuch as some breakfast cereals, enriched breads, flours, pastas, rice, and other grain productsare now fortified with folic acid. Many multivitamins contain the recommended dosage of folic acid as well.
Women who already have a child with spina bifida, who have spina bifida themselves, or who have already had a pregnancy affected by any neural tube defect are at greater risk of having another child with a neural tube defect. These women should take a higher prescription dose of folic acid before and early in pregnancy.
Spina Bifida Complications
Spina bifidas impact is determined by the type of defect and in the case of myelomeningocele and closed neural tube defects the size and location of the malformation.
Spina bifida complications may include:
What Teachers Should Know
Spina bifida is a birth defect in which part of the spine does not form normally before birth, leaving an opening in the back. As a result, the spinal cord and nerves may be damaged.
There are three types of spina bifida:
Problems that can happen with spina bifida include:
- hydrocephalus that requires a shunt to drain the extra fluid. Teachers should be aware of symptoms of shunt malfunction, which include headache, nausea or vomiting, and decreased physical or mental abilities.
- paralysis, depending on the location of the opening
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Differences To Open Spina Bifida
Open spina bifida, which is also known as myelomeningocele, is a severe congenital disability.
Those with open spina bifida are likely to have mobility issues, and experience injury and infection more frequently than people with spina bifida occulta.
A person with open spina bifida has a spinal canal that is open to varying degrees all the way along its length. Also, a sac that contains part of the spinal cord pushes out through the skin.
Symptoms of spina bifida occulta are usually mild, the gaps in the vertebrae are minimal and the spinal cord is still well protected.
However, some people with spina bifida occulta report having some symptoms. These can include:
- numbness or pain in the back of the legs
- curvature of the spine, known as scoliosis
- lack of bladder or bowel control
- misshapen legs and feet
Approximately 1 in 1,000 people with spina bifida occulta will experience symptoms such as these.
In some cases, people can see signs of their spinal cord abnormality, as this can cause changes in the skin along the midline of the lower back. Visible signs of a possible spinal cord abnormality include:
- a hairy patch on the skin
- discoloring of the skin or a birthmark
- a dimple or indented patch of skin
- a growth or pad of fat
If a person notices these signs, they should see their doctor to talk about their concerns.
How Do You Apply For Disability Benefits With Scoliosis
Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine. It can be present at birth , develop during adolescence , be caused by bone collapse due to osteoporosis, traumatic injury, or back surgery, or neuromuscular .
Scoliosis causes an S- or C-shaped curve in the spine and can vary from mild to severe.
There is no cure, but typical treatment includes bracing to prevent the curvature from increasing and, in cases of severe curves, surgery.
Scoliosis isnt specifically included in the Social Security Administrations Blue Book, a list of more than 100 medical conditions that can qualify individuals for social security disability benefits. This may leave you wondering, Is scoliosis a disability?
The answer is yes and no. Typically, scoliosis by itself isnt debilitating enough to interfere with your ability to work. Therefore, to qualify for social security disability benefits due to scoliosis, it must either be so severe that it meets the requirements of another disability included in the Blue Book, or you must qualify under a medical vocational allowance, which means your symptoms meet or exceed a listing and inhibit your ability to return to work.
Here is what you need to know if youre considering filing a scoliosis disability claim.
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What Happens When My Baby Is Born
Your baby will need special care at the time of birth. Medical staff will usually wrap the spinal opening with sterile dressings and plastic wrap and attach a drip to a vein in your babys arm to provide fluids and antibiotics. Your baby will be placed in an incubator for warmth.
If severely affected, your baby may be transferred to the hospitals neonatal intensive care unit. If necessary, an operation can be done within the first few days to repair the spine or drain fluid from the babys brain.
Depending on the type of spina bifida, your baby might need continuing care from different specialists working in a hospital or your community. They might need to help your child with practical matters such as movement and learning how to go to the toilet.
Social Security Disability Benefits For Hydrocephalus
This post discusses Social Security Disability Benefits for hydrocephalus. If you or someone you care for has been assessed with hydrocephalus, it will help to know how the Social Security Administration will evaluate your claim for disability benefits.
This post is not offered as medical advice. If you are having symptoms of a neurological disorder, please seek immediate medical treatment.
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How Is Spina Bifida Diagnosed
In most cases, spina bifida is diagnosed before birth . However, some mild cases may go unnoticed until after birth . Very mild forms of spinal bifida are found when doing tests for other conditions or may never be detected.
Prenatal Diagnosis
The most common screening methods used to look for spina bifida during pregnancy are maternal serum alpha fetoprotein screening and fetal ultrasound. A doctor can also perform an amniocentesis test.
- Maternal serum alpha fetoprotein screen. At 16 to 18 weeks of pregnancy, a sample of the mothers blood is taken to measure the level of a protein called alpha-fetoprotein , which is made naturally by the fetus and placenta. During pregnancy, a small amount of AFP normally crosses the placenta and enters the mothers bloodstream. Abnormally high levels of AFP may indicate that the fetus has spina bifida or other neural tube defect. This test is not specific for spina bifida and cannot definitively determine that there is a problem with the fetus. This means that a high AFP level alone is not enough to be sure the fetus has a neural tube defect. If a high level of AFP is detected, the doctor may request additional testing, such as an ultrasound or amniocentesis.
Postnatal Diagnosis
What Is Spina Bifida
Spina bifida is a birth defect that mainly affects the spine. Normally in the first month of pregnancy, a special set of cells forms the neural tube. The top of the tube becomes the brain and the remainder becomes the spinal cord and structures around it. In spina bifida, the neural tube doesnt close all the way and some of the bones of the spine dont close in the back.
Often, abnormalities of the brain accompany abnormalities of the spine because the neural tube closes first in the middle and then closure proceeds both upward and downwardmeaning that if something happens that prevents normal formation of the spine, it may also prevent normal formation of the part of the brain that is forming at the same time.
The term neural tube defect describes a group of conditions, including spina bifida, that occur when the neural tube does not close all the way.
Each year approximately 1,400 babies born in the United States have spina bifida, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The exact cause of spina bifida is unknown. There is no cure but most people with spina bifida lead long and productive lives. Scientists suspect genetic, nutritional, and environmental factors all play a role in spina bifida. People with spina bifida have different abilities and medical issues.
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Gi Bill Benefits / Va Education Benefits
This section can be confusing for those new to veteran benefits programs. For GI Bill benefits, there is a requirement that the applicant have an Honorable Discharge. Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits can be used by a veteran or currently serving military member.
They can be transferred to dependents including spouses and college-age children, but only while the service member is on active duty. Doing so requires a revised service commitment and you must serve a minimum time on active duty.
Other VA educational benefits programs such as Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance simply require the veterans discharge be anything other than Dishonorable.
Managing Toilet Needs Or Incontinence
This includes bladder and bowel incontinence, and includes cleaning yourself afterwards. Provide information of any toilet adaptations you may have, and any assistance you may need to transfer on and off the toilet or deal with any clothing.
Provide information about the number of times you have to dress/undress or change your clothing to enable you to manage your toilet needs. Explain any incontinence pads you use, how you catheterise or use any collecting devices, such as stoma bags, or if you use Peristeen or an ACE. Include any assistance that you require to manage your toilet needs.
Time how long it takes you to empty your bladder/ bowels do not guess how long this takes. If you have a recent history of bladder infections due to difficulties in maintaining a hygienic environment, provide details.
If you also have a sight impairment you may need to explain the help you require to use a toilet in unfamiliar places, to locate the toilet bowl, use the washbasin, soap and drying machine.
Explain any help you require to clean up accidents.
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Who Does Not Qualify For Veterans Benefits
Most anticipate that this section deals with people who left military service with discharges not characterized as Honorable. Believe it or not, even those with Dishonorable discharges may qualify for certain VA benefits, but definitely not all.
There is only one category of military service that does NOT qualify for veteran benefits across the board. That category is made up of those who did not complete basic training, troops who washed out of advanced training, etc.
Sometimes those who make it a bit farther along in the process but are ultimately released from their military obligations due to issues such as failure to adapt to a military training environment, etc.
In other words, those who do not make it past the initial training phase and wind up back in civilian life are not considered veterans and do not qualify for veteran benefits.
You must graduate basic training and meet the DoD standards for advanced training, OJT, or other requirements and be assigned to your first duty station as a permanent party member of that branch of service.
Can You Work With Spina Bifida
- Redesigning the role and removing lifting duties
- Scheduled rest breaks
- Moving the workstation closer to the toilet facilities
- Ergonomic chair and computer equipment
- Working from home
- Speech recognition software if keyboard tasks are difficult
- Personal assistant service
- Providing written over verbal instructions
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Reading And Understanding Signs Symbols And Words
This means basic written information including signs, symbols and dates, with the aid of spectacles or contact lenses, if used.
If you can read, but have difficulty in taking in and remembering written information/instructions, provide information about this. Provide details about any assistance or prompting you may require to understand basic or complex information.
Provide details of any difficulties you may have in reading and understanding financial information, such as bank statements. If you also have a sight impairment, describe situations where someone has to read something to you.
Explain about the aids you use, such as low-vision aids and magnification software. Accessing information by Braille is not considered as reading, so say if you are a Braille user.
Where Can I Send My Child Disability Benefit Application
Once you and your childs medical practitioner have completed the Disability Tax Credit Certification Form T2201, you are ready to have the CRA assess your application for your childs eligibility. You can send your application in two ways:
- Electronic submission by using your CRA My Account
- Mail submission to one of the tax centres
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Does Spina Bifida Qualify For Disability
Spina Bifida can be devastating for newborns and parents. As people with Spina Bifida age, they have to live with the complications of the disease. If your child was born with Spina Bifida or if your own Spina Bifida has stopped you from working, you need to consider applying for Social Security Disability.
When Does Spina Bifida Qualify For Social Security Disability
Social Security evaluates spina bifida under its disability listings for spinal disorders when the spine is affected in certain ways. When laminectomy or discectomy fails to relieve the patients symptoms, Social Security disability benefits may be available.
Qualifying for Disability Benefits Post-Back Surgery. Even though many patients who go through back surgery have not recovered well enough to go back to work within a year, the SSA usually considers a three- to four-month period sufficient for recovery from most back surgeries.
Disability examiners see back problems and injuries day after day, and they will not grant disability benefits for the moderate or intermittent back pain so many people get after age 40 or 50.
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Are Va Benefits Available For Children Of Korean And Vietnam Veterans Born With Spina Bifida
Yes, children of Korean or Vietnam veterans born with Spina Bifida are eligible for a monthly disability allowance and for vocational training. A monthly allowance is set at three levels, depending upon the degree of disability suffered by the child. VAs Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program administers a vocational training program to enable a qualified child to prepare for and attain suitable employment. Services may include:
- counseling and rehabilitative services
- education, training and employment services.
The VA pays for the costs of the services up to 24 months depending on need. The VA Spina Bifida Health Care Benefits Programauthorizes VA-financed health care benefits and:
- processes claims for medical care,
- pharmacy needs,
- supplies for eligible Spina Bifida beneficiaries.
For more information