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Wednesday, November 27, 2013

DISABILITY



DISABILITY
A group of biomedical disciplines that study the structure and function of the healthy or pathological nervous system, as well as the principles of nervous system phylogeny and ontogeny. The theoretical bases of neurology include neurophysiology and such morphological disciplines as the anatomy, histology, embryology, and comparative anatomy of the nervous system. Neuropsychology is a division of neurology. Clinical neurology, which is the study of nervous diseases, is called neuropathology in the USSR. Neurosurgery deals with nervous system diseases whose treatment is mainly surgical. Mental diseases constitute a special group of central nervous system disorders; these are the subject of psychiatry.
In ancient times, physicians were to some extent familiar with the morphology of the nervous system: they recognized the difference between the brain and the spinal cord, they determined the relationship between nerves and the brain, and they described the brain meninges. In the 16th century, A. Vesalius studied the nervous system from the point of view of the interrelationship between form and function; such an approach has dominated the study of neurology to this day. The accumulation of anatomical data proceeded during the centuries that followed. During the 19th century, the development of microscopy led to the accurate description of the neuron, of the nerve pathways, and of the centers of the nervous system. Neurophysiology developed simultaneously with the histology and descriptive anatomy of the nervous system.
R. Boyle and F. Redi initiated exploration of the animal brain by performing brain ablation studies. The development of experimental neurology in the first half of the 19th century made it possible for F. J. Gall to advance the hypothesis of localization of brain function. Special centers that control motor and sensory functions were discovered in the brain and spinal cord. Disturbances in motor and sensory function, especially those that occur when half the spinal cord is severed, were described in 1849 by C. Brown-Séquard. Improvements in microscope technology and the development of methods for fixing cerebral tissues made it possible to study the microstructure of the brain.
In the second half of the 19th century, progress was made by J. F. Cohnheim and other researchers in studying the vascularization of the brain. At the same time, microscopic studies of brain structures were being carried out by other scientists, including the German anatomist and neurologist P. Flechsig and the French morphologist L. Ranvier. The phylogeny and ontogeny of the nervous system were also investigated during the second half of the 19th century. F. V. Ovsiannikov, V. A. Betz (Bets), N. M. Iakubovich, and V. M. Bekhterev made important contributions to the study of brain structures, including the discovery of Betz cells and Iakubovich’s and Bekhterev’s nuclei. At the turn of the 20th century, the physiological investigations of I. M. Sechenov, N. E. Vvedenskii, and C. Sherrington were especially significant to the development of neurology.
The 20th century has seen many important achievements in the field of neurology. Among these are the teachings of I. P. Pavlov on higher nervous activity, the explanation of the evolutionary genetics that define structure and function in the brain, and the inclusion of new data on the vertical levels of organization of brain activity into the older concepts about the horizontal levels of integration of nervous activity. Researchers in these areas include H. Magoun and G. Moruzzi in the USA, W. Pen-field and H. Jasper in Canada, and O. Sager, in the Socialist Republic of Rumania. J. Delgado in the USA and R. Hassler in the Federal Republic of Germany studied the functions of the brain by electrostimulation of the deep cerebral structures. Significant progress has also been made in understanding neuronal chemistry and the biochemical differences between the various structures of the central and peripheral nervous systems. The development of cybernetics as applied to neurology has occasioned attempts to create mathematical models that reflect morphological and physiological aspects of brain processes. The interrelationship of the brainstem and the subcortex received special consideration in these mathematical investigations. One potentially fruitful application of mathematical modeling methods to neurology is the possibility of representing cerebral reflex processes in the brain in the form of cybernetic diagrams.
The works of Pavlov’s school has exerted a singular influence on the development of neurology in the USSR. L. A. Orbeli developed the concept of the adaptotrophic function of the cerebellum and experimentally established the influence of the sympathetic nervous system on muscle contraction (the Orbeli-Ginetsinskii phenomenon). V. N. Chernigovskii significantly contributed to the study of interoception, and K. M. Bykov, to the study of the interrelation of the cerebral cortex and the internal organs.
P. K. Anokhin facilitated the investigation of the integrative activity of the brain by introducing his theory of functional systems. E. A. Asratian experimentally induced various lesions in the brain in order to study the high degree of cerebral plasticity; these investigations were important in establishing a theory to explain the recovery of neurologic functions and to elucidate the compensatory processes that occur in response to a neurologic injury. N. A. Bernshtein formulated the principles of the organization of motor functions. The investigation of the cytoarchitectonics of the brain has been continued by the German neurologists K. Brodmann, S. Vogt, and O. Vogt and by several Soviet neurologists, including S. A. Sarkisov and I. N. Filimonov. B. N. Klosovskii has continued the study of vascular structure in the brain.
The electrode implants and stereotoxic operations performed by Bekhterev and other scientists who employ microelectrode techniques have uncovered new data on the functional significance of various regions of the brain. The use of these methods has contributed to the development of the doctrine of localization of function in the central nervous system and has opened up the possibility of directing mental processes during pathological states.
Major scientific centers where neurology is studied in the USSR include the Institute of Brain Research and the Institute of Neurology of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR and the Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (Moscow); the Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR and the V. M. Bekhterev Psychoneurological Institute (Leningrad); the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology (Kharkov); the Institute of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Physiotherapy (Minsk); and the Institute of Experimental and Clinical Neurology (Tbilisi). Problems of neurology are discussed in several publications, including Zhurnal nevropatologii i psikhiatrii im. S. S. Korsakova (S. S. Korsakov Journal of Neuropathology and Psychiatry; published since 1901), Klinicheskaia meditsina (Clinical Medicine; published since 1920), and Voprosy neirokhirurgii (Problems of Neurosurgery; published since 1937).
Abroad, the important research centers in neurology include the Neurological Institute of Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City and the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke in Bethesda, Md., in the USA; the National Hospitals for Nervous Diseases in Great Britain; the Max Planck Institute in the Federal Republic of Germany; the Montreal Neurological Institute; the Psychoneurological Institute in the Polish People’s Republic; the Institute of Neurology in the Socialist Republic of Rumania; and the Center for Neurology, Psychiatry, and Neurosurgery in the People’s Republic of Bulgaria. Neurological research is covered in the following general medical and specialized journals: Neurology (published in Minneapolis, Minn., since 1951), Archives of Neurology (published in Chicago, III., since 1919), Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases (published in Baltimore, Md., since 1874), Brain (published in London since 1878), Nervenartz (published in Berlin since 1928), Revue neurologique (published in Paris since 1893), European Neurology (published in Basel since 1968), and Journal of the Neurological Sciences (published in Amsterdam since 1964). The World Federation of Neurology unites neurologists of various countries. International congresses on neurology have been held since 1897.

Neurology

Neurology  is the study of the anatomy, physiology, and diseases of the nervous system. It is the study of the anatomy, physiology, and disorders of the nervous system.Neurology  is the study of the morphology, physiology, and pathology of the human nervous system. As researchers, neurologists carry on investigative and experimental work in such areas as conductivity, embryology, and the metabolism of nervous tissue. As practicing physicians, neurologists diagnose and treat diseases that involve the nervous system. Since the brain, spine, and eye are integral part of the nervous system, the domain of neurology overlaps that of psychiatry, orthopedics and ophthalmology. Current research is directed toward spinal cord injuries, brain tumors, reattachment of severed limbs, and the treatment of conditions generated by repetitive motions. The recent discovery of growth factors opens the possibility of healing or regenerating tissues of the nervous system.
Medical specialty concerned with nervous system function and disorders. Clinical neurology began in the mid-19th century, when mapping of the functional areas of the brain first began and understanding of the causes of conditions such as epilepsy improved. The development of electroencephalography in the 1920s aided in the diagnosis of neurological disease, as did the development of computerized axial tomography in the 1970s and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging in the 1980s. In addition to dealing with physical disorders (e.g., tumours, trauma), neurology is unique among medical specialties in its intersection with psychiatry. Greater understanding of the brain chemistry of disorders such as schizophrenia and depression has led to a wide array of effective drugs that nevertheless work best in conjunction with psychotherapy. Side effects of drug or surgical therapy can be serious, and many nervous system disorders have no effective treatment. Medical speciality concerned with the study and treatment of disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves.
Neurological disorder
Neurological disorders are disorders that involve the nervous system, for example the brain, muscles, or spinal cord. This includes such diseases as Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS), cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, spina bifida, spinal cord injury (SCI), and stroke, among others. Each one of these conditions will have its own neurological assessment, and each will have its own treatment approach and rehabilitation plan. This section will explain more about specific neurological disorders, including their symptoms, diagnoses, and treatments.
A neurological disorder is a disorder of the body's nervous system. Structural, biochemical or electrical abnormalities in the brain or spinal cord, or in the nerves leading to or from them, can result in symptoms such as paralysis, muscle weakness, poor coordination, loss of sensation, seizures, confusion, pain and altered levels of consciousness. There are many recognized neurological disorders, some relatively common, but many rare. They may be revealed by neurological examination and studied and treated within the specialities of neurology and clinical neuropsychology. Interventions include preventative measures, lifestyle changes, physiotherapy or other therapy, neurorehabilitation, pain management, medication, or operations performed by neurosurgeons. The World Health Organization estimated in 2006 that neurological disorders and their sequelae affect as many as one billion people worldwide, and identified health inequalities and social stigma/discrimination as major factors contributing to the associated disability and suffering.[1]

Definition of Neurological Disorders

By Rik Akirehs, eHow Contributor
o    Neurological disorders are disorders that affect motor and cognitive abilities. When affected by such illnesses, a person's memory, concentration, speech, and physical elements can be drastically altered. Some of these people cannot take care of themselves, such as with feeding, clothing, and other basic everyday activities. There are numerous neurological disorders that progress over time and many that are present at birth. Not only do the people who live with these disorders suffer, however, their loved ones also experience great pain.

Alzheimer's Disease

o    Alzheimer's Disease is an extreme case of irreversible memory loss. The ailment typically occurs in older people. The disease can affect some starting in their 30s caused by a mutated genetic occurrence; this process is called early onset Alzheimer's Disease. Majority of suffers exceed the age of 65 years old. A distinctive effect of this disorder includes losing the ability to recognize or remember loved ones. There are treatments used to maintain the disease and allow some the ability to keep up cognitive skills; however, there is no cure to stop the progressing process.

ADHD

o    ADHD translates into Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder which is commonly known to affect young children. It is a behavioral disorder that can also expand into adulthood, and those that experience it have trouble focusing, organizing, completing tasks and consistently moving around. There are no remedies that can completely treat this disorder; however, stimulants, such as Ritalin, may be used to help calm the symptoms.

Autism

o    Autism is a social disorder, and those affected have trouble adequately communicating, both verbally and non-verbally. In children and adults, signs include delayed speech, no interest in socialization, depression, and no reactions toward different emotions. They also show signs of obsessive behavioral constantly repeating actions. Therapy is available for treatment in hopes of breaking speech and social inadequacies.

Dyslexia

o    Dyslexia is a learning disability that mainly affects a person's ability to read sufficiently, formulate correct spelling, view letters and words smoothly, and satisfactory process sound and visual commands. Usually this disorder is recognized within school aged children and can continue throughout adulthood. Educational therapies and activities are utilized to help improve symptoms, which has been effective in combating this disorder.
o     

Parkinson's Disease

o    Parkinson's Disease is a disorder which greatly affects the motor system causing uncontrollable trembling of the face, arms, and legs. The ability to speak, walk, chew and shallow food are among many debilitating symptoms that alter the capacity to care for oneself. Mainly people over the age of 50 are affected; however, symptoms can begin to appear well before then. There are numerous medications available to help subdue the symptoms, however, there is no cure for the disease. When medication provides no relief, a deep brain stimulation, which is an implanted pulse generator in the brain, can improve motor skills and moderate trembling and other issues with the disease.
Causes
Part of the causal chain leading to Alzheimer's disease.
Although the brain and spinal cord are surrounded by tough membranes, enclosed in the bones of the skull and spinal vertebrae, and chemically isolated by the so-called blood-brain barrier, they are very susceptible if compromised. Peripheral nerves tend to lie deep under the skin but are also still relatively exposed to damage. And individual neurons, the building blocks of the nervous system, and the neural networks into which they form, are susceptible to electrochemical and structural disruption. While neuroregeneration may occur in the peripheral nervous system, it is thought to be rare in the brain and spinal cord.
The specific causes vary by disorder and sometimes by individual case, but can include genetic disorders; congenital abnormalities or disorders; infections; lifestyle or environmental health problems including malnutrition; and brain injury, spinal cord injury or nerve injury. The problem may start in another body system that interacts with the nervous system; for example cerebrovascular disorders involve brain injury due to problems with the blood vessels (cardiovascular system) supplying the brain, and autoimmune disorders involve damage caused by the body's own immune system.
In a substantial minority of cases of neurological symptoms, no neural cause can be identified using current testing procedures, and such "idiopathic" conditions can invite different theories about what is occurring.
Classification
Anatomy of the human brain.
Neurological disorders can be categorized according to the primary location affected, the primary type of dysfunction involved, or the primary type of cause. The broadest division is between central nervous system (CNS) disorders and peripheral nervous system (PNS) disorders. The Merck Manual lists brain, spinal cord and nerve disorders in the following overlapping categories:    

Neurological disorders in non-human animals are treated by veterinarians.
Neural and mental dysfunction
Mental disorders, learning disabilities and mental retardation are not usually classed as primarily neurological. However the distinction can be a matter of some debate, either in regard to specific facts about the cause of a condition or in regard to the general understanding of brain and mind. Furthermore the definition of disorder can be contested in regard to what is considered abnormal, dysfunctional, harmful or unnatural in neurological, evolutionary, psychometric or social terms.
While certain types of mental condition are not usually classified primarily as neurological disorders, and certain types of brain disorder are not usually classified primarily as mental conditions, there are now an array of basic sciences that deal with the continuum between the neural and the mental, including subspecialities of psychology and neuroscience such as neuropsychology, cognitive neuropsychology or cognitive (thought) neuroscience, affective (emotion) neuroscience, behavior neuroscience (also known as biopsychology), social neuroscience, and neurophenomenology (subjective experience and consciousness).
Different levels of analysis in the understanding of cognition in the brain.
These basic fields inform the applied medical and clinical disciplines of neurology, psychiatry and clinical psychology, whose theories and treatments now routinely encompass a biopsychosocial model. These disciplines in turn comprise subspecialities such as behavioral neurology, neuropsychiatry and clinical neuropsychology that deal with cases where a connection between mental/behavioral problems and brain dysfunction is particularly called for. Biopsychiatry is the general term for the approach in psychiatry that seeks to explain all mental disorders primarily in terms of the biological functioning of the nervous system.
The conventional distinctions drawn between mind, brain and nervous system are to some extent mirrored by the various overlapping categories of clinical examination, namely mental state examination, neuropsychological assessment and neurological examination. At the present time a brain scan alone cannot accurately diagnose a mental disorder or tell the risk of developing one, but can be used to rule out other medical conditions such as a brain tumor.
Such distinctions can affect the explanation given for idiopathic (of unknown origin) neurological symptoms if it is thought (perhaps by exclusion of any other diagnosis) that higher brain/mental activity is causing symptoms that usually originate in other areas of the nervous system. Classic examples are "functional" seizures, sensory numbness, "functional" limb weakness and functional neurological deficit ("functional" in this context is usually contrasted with the old term "organic disease"). Such cases may be contentiously interpreted as being "psychological" rather than "neurological". In psychiatry some cases may then be classified as mental disorders, for example conversion disorder if the symptoms appear to be causally linked to emotional states or responses to social stress. However there are also accepted neurological conditions of dissociation where the brain/mind appears to register neurological stimuli that cannot possibly be coming from the part of the nervous system to which they would normally be attributed, such as phantom pain or synesthesia, or where limbs act without conscious direction as in alien hand syndrome.

  Neurological impairments are a group of disorders that primarily relate to the central nervous system comprised of the brain and spinal cord. Among the more common diagnostic categories and conditions are cerebral palsy, epilepsy, brain injury, multiple sclerosis, Tourette’s Syndrome.
A neurological impairment or disability may affect an individual’s speech, motor skills, vision, memory, muscle actions and learning abilities.
Neurological impairments are categorized into three major types: Childhood Aphasia which primarily affects speech and language abilities’; Minimal Brain Dysfunction that affects learning and behavioral abilities; and Learning Disability which primarily affects understanding or the ability to process language.

Neurological-Disability is important to recognize and treat as many neurological diseases need to be "lived-with" for an extended period rather than cured in a short space of time"

 

Types of neurological impairments and examples of how they may be managed

Cognitive and Psychological Issues:-

Medical, psychological, social manipulation including support groups

Speech and Swallowing:-

Speech and Language therapy, communication devices, food processing, PEG feeding, nutritionist assessment
If you or a loved one have a speech disorder that requires speech therapy, speech-therapy-on-video.com can help.

Double Vision (diplopia):-

Prismatic lenses



Motor Function in Arms:-

Physiotherapy, occupational therapy, specialized keyboard and writing devices and manipulation of other environmental features and objects to increase functional quality of life (phone, bathrooms, stairs etc)

Walking (gait) problems:-

Walking aids (cane, walking frame) wheelchair, electric buggy, stair-lift, bars, ramps, lifts, hoists (e.g. for bath), specialized shoes and leg / ankle supports for weakness in specific muscle groups e.g. "foot-drop"

Sphincter problems:-

Catheterization (including by patient themselves), medications to decrease bladder sensitivity,  laxatives, suppositories, enemas.

Sexual dysfunction:-

Medications (viagra, cialis etc), lubricants, sexual therapy counselling,

Recurrent falls:-

Pad / carpet floors, sometimes may consider stopping blood-thinning medication (with medical consultation) helmets, panic button, pad various parts of body, provide shoes with improved traction

Neurological disorder

 disturbance in structure or function of the central nervous system resulting from developmental abnormality, disease, injury or toxin

Neurological Conditions

What is Neurology?
Neurology is a branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Medical professionals specializing in the field of neurology are called neurologists and are trained to diagnose, treat, and manage patients with neurological disorders.


Neurological Disorders Include:
Disorders involving muscles.
Structural disorders of the brain and spinal cord.
Structural disorders of the nerves in the face, trunk and limbs.
Conditions which are not caused by structural disease such as many varieties of headache.
Conditions such as epilepsy, fainting and dizziness which are often caused by disordered physiology, rather than abnormal anatomy.
Neurological conditions are the most common cause of serious disabilities and have a major, but often unrecognised, impact on health and social services.
Neurological Conditions
Public Speaking and Panic Attacks - Public speaking for people who suffer from panic attacks or general anxiety often becomes a major source of worry weeks or even months before the speaking event is to occur.
Causes of Panic Attacks - The short and obvious answer: panic attacks are caused by high anxiety. But, what exactly is anxiety? Understanding how anxiety crops up will help you defeat panic attacks.
Post Polio Syndrome - Post-polio syndrome (PPS) is a condition that affects polio survivors years after recovery from an initial acute attack of the poliomyelitis virus. PPS is mainly characterized by new weakening in muscles that were previously affected by the polio infection and in muscles that seemingly were unaffected.
List of Neurological Disorders - Alphabetical list of currently known Human Neurological Conditions with links to definitions for each disorder.
Human Brain Facts and Answers - Questions answers and facts relating to the human brain and the study of the brain organ including the spinal cord.
Definitions of Human Brain Components - Glossary of words used to define various parts and actions relating to the human brain.
Overcoming Agoraphobia - Agoraphobia is the fear of open spaces or of being in crowded, public places such as shopping malls, grocery stores, train stations, restaurants, really anywhere that is out of a person's comfort zone such as their home.
Migraine Relief from Belladonna - I strongly recommend that anyone who suffers from migraine attacks should consult with a homeopath as I'm sure they will find the experience and their professionalism as 'life-changing' as I have.
The Common Headache - There can be very few people who have not experienced a headache and yet, despite the fact that they are so common, their cause remains something of a mystery.
Migraine Headaches - Unlike normal headaches, migraines are also often accompanied by other symptoms which include sensitivity to light and noise, nausea and sometimes vomiting.
Neuropathic Pain - There has been a wealth of research into what causes pain. It is a symptom or warning of an underlying medical problem. Researchers can describe in detail how the sensation is transmitted from its source to the brain so we become aware of the problem and can take action to treat it.
Back Pain And Multiple Sclerosis - Multiple Sclerosis is a progressive disease such as demyelinating and affects the motor and sensory neurons.
Multiple Sclerosis Research - In multiple sclerosis research major gains have been made in identifying the role of the immune system in the development of MS lesions.
Famous People with Schizophrenia - This article lists well known and famous people who have and had Schizophrenia.
What is Neurofibromatosis? - The neurofibromatoses are genetic disorders of the nervous system that primarily affect the development and growth of neural (nerve) cell tissues. These disorders cause tumors to grow on nerves and produce other abnormalities such as skin changes and bone deformities.

Definitions - Neurological Conditions - - Joubert Syndrome - Joubert Syndrome is a rare brain malformation characterized by the absence or underdevelopment of the cerebellar vermis - an area of the brain that controls balance and coordination.
 - Zellweger Syndrome - Zellweger Syndrome  is one of a group of related diseases called peroxisome biogenesis disorders (PBD), which are part of a larger group of diseases known as the leukodystrophies.
Panic Attacks - Symptoms of Anxiety - A panic attack always comes with the acute sense of impending doom. You feel you are either about to lose your mind or one of your vital bodily functions is about to cease functioning and you will end your days right there among the canned goods and frozen food.
Post Concussion Syndrome - Post concussion syndrome (PCS) is a combination of disorders which can occur after injury to the brain. A severe brain injury is not necessary to cause PCS, even a mild trauma to the brain can cause the symptoms to appear.
Dystonia - Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions, which force certain parts of the body into abnormal, sometimes painful, movements or postures. Dystonia can affect any part of the body including the arms and legs, trunk, neck, eyelids, face, or vocal cords.
Sanity Reality or Fabrication? - Modern psychology does not define the term "sanity." Look it up in any psychology book and you'll find not a single attempt to actually define what it is to be sane. Different countries have legal systems that define sanity, in the same way that individuals define what is and is not sane for themselves.
Schizophrenia - All of us, somehow, have experienced hearing something only to discover nothing when we turn our heads. But not all of us experience hearing voices inside our minds that tell us to do something which turn us into monsters of sorts.
- Hypertonia is a condition marked by an abnormal increase in muscle tension and a reduced ability of a muscle to stretch. It is caused by injury to motor pathways in the central nervous system, which carry information from the central nervous system to the muscles and control posture, muscle tone, and reflexes.
- Approximately 2 million people in the United States have epilepsy, a chronic disorder of the brain that causes a tendency to have recurrent seizures.
Health with Cerebral Palsy - Some kids with CP use wheelchairs and others walk with the help of crutches or braces. In some cases, a kid's speech may be affected or the person might not be able to speak at all.
- Cerebral palsy can't be cured, but treatment will often improve a child's capabilities. Many children go on to enjoy near-normal adult lives if their disabilities are properly managed.
Do Adults with Cerebral Palsy Face Special Health Challenges? - Before the mid-twentieth century, few children with cerebral palsy survived to adulthood. Now, because of improvements in medical care, rehabilitation, and assistive technologies, 65 to 90 percent of children with cerebral palsy live into their adult years.
Caregivers of Parkinsons Patients - It can be very challenging to cope with the long-term degenerative effects of, and the potential loss of independence that may result from Parkinson's disease.
Carpal Tunnel Ergonomics - The basic concepts behind carpal tunnel ergonomics are discussed here to give people a better idea of how they can be applied. carpal tunnel is found in both the palm and wrist where the forearm and hand's tendons and nerves pass.
  Amnesia  - Amnesia is a condition which can define by the loss of memory which can last for two hours or sometimes two months or more.
Understanding and Dealing with Panic Attacks - A Panic attack is an intense feeling of fear, a feeling of impending doom. Sufferers may feel that they are going crazy or that they are on the verge of a heart attack. Panic attacks may feel terrifying at the time, but they are not dangerous, it is just a flow of adrenalin surging through your body.
Migraine Headaches - The Critical First Ten Minutes - Anyone who has ever experienced migraine headaches knows how painful and tortuous life can be after a migraine begins. One never knows if the headache, once it begins, will turn into one of those migraine headaches that can leave someone incapacitated for hours or for days.
Panic Disorder - The Frightening Truth - Panic disorder is an often misunderstood illness which may strike the afflicted person at any time, day or night. Some of the symptoms of this illness are sudden weakness, dizziness, tingling or numbness in the extremities, and nausea which is preceded by a sudden and overwhelming attack of terror.
Carpal Tunnel Sydrome Exercises - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), is a condition of the median nerve in the wrist being compressed as entering the inflamed carpal tunnel.

   Encephalitis  - Encephalitis means "inflammation of the brain," but it usually refers to brain inflammation caused by a virus.
Huntingtons Disease - Huntington's disease (Huntington's chorea) is a progressive, degenerative disease that causes certain nerve cells in your brain to waste away.
Meningococcal Meningitis - Every year in the United States, nearly 300 people die of meningococcal meningitis and many more experience serious complications from this disease. Another 700 people develop pneumococcal meningitis. In both cases, most of those affected are children under the age of 5.

brain damage - injury to the brain that impairs its functions (especially permanently); can be caused by trauma to the head, infection, hemorrhage, inadequate oxygen, genetic abnormality, etc.
brain disease, brain disorder, encephalopathy - any disorder or disease of the brain
ataxia, ataxy, dyssynergia, motor ataxia - inability to coordinate voluntary muscle movements; unsteady movements and staggering gait
atopognosia, atopognosis - absence or loss of topognosia; inability to locate correctly a point of touch
dyskinesia - abnormality in performing voluntary muscle movements
chorea - any of several degenerative nervous disorders characterized by spasmodic movements of the body and limbs
flaccid paralysis - weakness or loss of muscle tone resulting from injury or disease of the nerves innervating the muscles
ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Lou Gehrig's disease - thickening of tissue in the motor tracts of the lateral columns and anterior horns of the spinal cord; results in progressive muscle atrophy that starts in the limbs
athetosis - a continuous succession of slow, writhing, involuntary movements of the hands and feet and other body parts
kuru - a progressive disease of the central nervous system marked by increasing lack of coordination and advancing to paralysis and death within a year of the appearance of symptoms; thought to have been transmitted by cannibalistic consumption of diseased brain tissue since the disease virtually disappeared when cannibalism was abandoned
nerve compression - harmful pressure on a nerve (especially in nerves that pass over rigid prominences); causes nerve damage and muscle weakness

Focal neurological deficits   

Definition

A focal neurologic deficit is a problem in nerve, spinal cord, or brain function that affects a specific location, such as the left face, right arm, or even a small area such as the tongue.
It also refers to any problem with a specific nervous system function such as memory or emotion.
The type, location, and severity of the problem can indicate the area of the brain or nervous system that is affected.
In contrast, a non-focal problem is NOT specific -- such as a general loss of consciousness.

Alternative Names

Neurological deficits - focal

Considerations

A focal neurologic problem can affect any function:
Other examples of focal loss of function include:

Common Causes

Anything that damages or disrupts any PART of the nervous system can cause a focal neurologic deficit. Examples include:

Home Care

Home care depends on the type and the cause of neurologic loss.

  Health Care  

The health care provider will take   medical history and perform a physical examination.
Medical history questions detailing neurological deficits may include:
  • When did the problem start and how fast is it changing?
    • Was it sudden or gradual?
    • Has it worsened over seconds, minutes, hours, days, or months?
    • How long have you had the problem?
  • Where is the loss of function?
    • Left arm?
    • Left leg?
    • Right arm?
    • Right leg?
    • Another location (be specific)?
  • What deficits are present?
  • What other symptoms do you have?

The physical examination will include a detailed examination of nervous system function.
Diagnostic tests vary depending on other symptoms and the suspected cause of the nerve function loss. Tests used ot evaluate focal neurologic deficits are aimed at locating the place in the nervous system that is involved. Common examples are:
  • CT scan of the back, neck, or head
  • EMG (electromyogram)/NCV (nerve conduction velocities)
  • MRI of the back, neck, or head

  Focal neurological deficits
A focal neurologic deficit is a problem in nerve, spinal cord, or brain function that affects a specific location, such as the left face, right arm, or even a small area such as the tongue. It also refers to any problem with a specific nervous system function such as memory...

  Smell - impaired

Impaired smell is the partial or total loss of the sense of smell. Loss of smell; Anosmia The loss of smell can occur as a result of nasal congestion or blockage of the nose and isn't serious, but it can sometimes be a sign of a nervous system...
Inhibition
The blocking or limiting of the activity of an organ, tissue, or cell of the body, caused by the action of a nerve or neuron or by the release of a substance such as a hormone or neurotransmitter

Narcolepsy - a neurological condition most characterized by Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS). A narcoleptic will most likely experience disturbed nocturnal sleep, which is often confused with insomnia, and disorder of REM or rapid eye movement sleep. It is one of the dyssomnias. A narcoleptic may also sleep at any random time.
Neuroacanthocytosis - a rare movement disorder marked by progressive muscle weakness and atrophy, progressive cognitive loss, chorea (involuntary twisting movements of the body), and acanthocytosis (spiked red blood cells associated with several inherited neurological disorders). Other symptoms include facial tics, uncontrolled muscle movement, instability when walking, seizures, biting of the tongue and lips, and changes in personality, comprehension, and judgment.
Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation - (NBIA) is a rare, inherited, neurological movement disorder characterized by progressive degeneration of the nervous system. Symptoms, which vary greatly among patients and usually develop during childhood, may include slow writhing, distorting muscle contractions of the limbs, face, or trunk, choreoathetosis (involuntary, purposeless jerky muscle movements), muscle rigidity (uncontrolled tightness of the muscles), spasticity (sudden, involuntary muscle spasms), ataxia (inability to coordinate movements), confusion, disorientation, seizures, stupor, and dementia.
Neurofibromatosis - an autosomal dominant genetic disorder. It encompasses a set of distinct genetic disorders that cause tumors to grow along types of nerves and, in addition, can affect the development of non-nervous tissues such as bones and skin. The tumors can grow anywhere on or in the body.
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome - (NMS) is a life-threatening, neurological disorder most often caused by an adverse reaction to neuroleptic or antipsychotic drugs. It generally presents with muscle rigidity, fever, autonomic instability and cognitive changes such as delirium, and is proven on a raised creatine phosphokinase (CPK). Treatment is generally supportive.
Neurological Complications of AIDS - AIDS is primarily an immune system disorder caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but it can also affect the nervous system. HIV does not appear to directly invade nerve cells but it jeopardizes their health and function, causing symptoms such as confusion, forgetfulness, behavioral changes, severe headaches, progressive weakness, loss of sensation in the arms and legs, stroke, cognitive motor impairment, or damage to the peripheral nerves. Other complications that can occur as a result of HIV infection or the drugs used to treat it include pain, seizures, shingles, spinal cord problems, lack of coordination, difficult or painful swallowing, anxiety disorder, depression, fever, vision loss, gait disorders, destruction of brain tissue, and coma.
Neurological Complications Of Lyme Disease - Lyme disease is caused by a bacterial organism that is transmitted to humans via the bite of an infected tick. Most people bitten by an infected tick develop a characteristic skin rash around the area of the bite. The rash may feel hot to the touch, and vary in size, shape, and color, but it will often have a "bull's eye" appearance (a red ring with a clear center). However, there are those who will not develop the rash, which makes Lyme disease hard to diagnose because its symptoms and signs mimic those of many other diseases.
Neurological Consequences of Cytomegalovirus Infection - CMV is in the same family of viruses that includes herpes simplex types 1 and 2, and the viruses that cause infectious mononucleosis (EBV), chickenpox, and shingles. A hallmark of CMV is the reappearance of symptoms throughout life, as the virus cycles through periods of dormancy and active infection.
Neurological Manifestations of Pompe Disease - Pompe disease is a rare inherited and often fatal disorder that disables the heart and muscles. It is caused by mutations in a gene that makes an enzyme called alpha-glucosidase (GAA). Normally, the body uses GAA to break down glycogen, a stored form of sugar used for energy. But in Pompe disease, mutations in the GAA gene reduce or completely eliminate this essential enzyme. Excessive amounts of glycogen accumulate everywhere in the body, but the cells of the heart and skeletal muscles are the most seriously affected.
Neurological Sequelae Of Lupus - is a disorder of the immune system. Normally, the immune system protects the body against invading infections and cancers. In lupus, the immune system is over-active and produces increased amounts of abnormal antibodies that attack the body's tissues and organs. Lupus can affect many parts of the body, including the joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, heart, nervous system, and blood vessels.
Neuromyelitis Optica or Devic's disease - an autoimmune, inflammatory disorder in which a person's own immune system attacks the optic nerves and spinal cord. This produces an inflammation of the optic nerve (optic neuritis) and the spinal cord (myelitis). Although inflammation may also affect the brain, the lesions are different to those observed in the related condition multiple sclerosis. Spinal cord lesions lead to varying degrees of weakness or paralysis in the legs or arms, loss of sensation, and/or bladder and bowel dysfunction. Devic's disease is a rare disorder which resembles multiple sclerosis (MS) in several ways.
Neuromyotonia - also known as Isaacs' Syndrome, is spontaneous muscular activity resulting from repetitive motor unit action potentials of peripheral origin.
Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis - (NCL, also known as Batten Disease) is the general name for a family of at least eight genetically separate neurodegenerative disorders that result from excessive accumlation of lipopigments (lipofuscin) in the body's tissues. These lipopigments are made up of fats and proteins. Their name comes from the technical word lipo, which is short for "lipid" or fat, and from the term pigment, used because they take on a greenish-yellow color when viewed under an ultraviolet light microscope. The lipopigments build up in cells of the brain and the eye as well as in skin, muscle, and many other tissues.
Neuronal Migration Disorders - (NMDs) are a group of birth defects caused by the abnormal migration of neurons in the developing brain and nervous system.
Neuropathy - Hereditary - a group of inherited disorders of the peripheral nervous system. Within the group there are 4 subcategories of disorders, including hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy, hereditary sensory neuropathy, hereditary motor neuropathy, and hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy. Symptoms of these disorders vary and may include numbness and tingling in the feet and hands, muscle weakness (especially in the distal muscles), scoliosis, thin lower legs, foot deformities, insensitivity to pain, and autonomic symptoms such as impaired sweating, postural hypotension, and skin blotching.
Neurosarcoidosis - refers to sarcoidosis, a condition of unknown cause featuring granulomas in various tissues, involving the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). It can have many manifestations, but abnormalities of the cranial nerves (a group of twelve nerves supplying the head and neck area) are the most common. It may develop acutely, subacutely, and chronically.
Neurotoxicity - occurs when the exposure to natural or manmade toxic substances, which are called neurotoxins, alters the normal activity of the nervous system. This can eventually disrupt or even kill neurons, key cells that transmit and process signals in the brain and other parts of the nervous system. Neurotoxicity can result from exposure to substances used in chemotherapy, radiation treatment, drug therapies and organ transplants, as well as exposure to heavy metals such as lead and mercury, certain foods and food additives, pesticides, industrial and/or cleaning solvents, cosmetics, and some naturally occurring substances.
Nevus Cavernosus - or cavernous angioma, vascular malformation composed of sinusoidal vessels without a large feeding artery; can be multiple, especially if inherited as an autosomal-dominant trait.
Niemann-Pick Disease - an autosomal recessive disorder affecting lipid metabolism (the breakdown and use of fats and cholesterol in the body), in a way which causes harmful amounts of lipids to accumulate in the spleen, liver, lungs, bone marrow, and brain.
Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus - (NPH) is an abnormal increase of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain's ventricles, or cavities. It occurs if the normal flow of CSF throughout the brain and spinal cord is blocked in some way. This causes the ventricles to enlarge, putting pressure on the brain.
MotorDisabilities
Motor disabilities are disabilities that effect a person's ability to learn motor tasks moving and manipulating objects) such as walking, running, skipping, tying shoes, crawling, sitting, handwriting, and others. To be considered a disability, the problem must cause a person to have motor coordination that is significantly below what would be expected for his or her age, and the problem must interfere with the activities of learning and daily living. Cerebral palsy is a motor disability.
Motor disability
Motor disability may result from:
·         invalidating diseases (polio, turbecolosis, etc.)
·         accidents (war injuries, road accidents, etc.)
·         complications during birth (cerebral palsy, etc.)
·         genetic/congenital problems.
What do I need to know?
·         Motor disability may be the sum of diverse impairments on a mental, sensorial and physical level.
·         Medical, technical and human assistance can reduce the impact of the disability to a minimum.
·         A person with a motor disability needs more power and concentration in order to control the movements of her/his body, as a result s/he might be exhausted sooner than other group members 3).
What should be avoided?
·         People with diffuse neuro-muscular symptoms should not regularly participate in training as long as multiple sclerosis cannot be excluded as a diagnosis.
·         Overstraining people with motor disability may cause pain and suffering and it may take several days for the muscles to recover. Too much stress may cause spasms.
·         It is important to compensate the high loss of fluids caused by perspiration. A healthy person may recover better than someone whose physical strength is continually challenged by overcoming difficulties in motor movements in every day activities.

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