What is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways. Asthma causes recurring periods of wheezing (a whistling sound when you breathe), chest tightness, shortness of breath, coughing.

The coughing often occurs at night or early in the morning.

Asthma affects people of all ages, but it most often starts during childhood. In . . . Read More »

What is Autism?

Autism is a brain development disorder that is characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and restricted and repetitive behavior, all starting before a child is three years old.

This set of signs distinguishes autism from milder such as pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified.

Autism falls under the category of Pervasive Developmental Disorders, . . . Read More »

What is a Vision Disability?

The number of different conditions that can affect a person’s eyesight are varied in the way they do affect the person’s daily life. Some of these conditions have a minor affect, while others may have a larger affect.

Various conditions require only eyeglasses or contact lenses in order to correct the person’s . . . Read More »

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is a general term describing a group of chronic non-progressive neurological symptoms which cause impaired control of movement and which are evident in the first few years of life, usually before age 3.

The disorders are induced by damage or faulty development of the motor areas in the brain, disrupting the . . . Read More »

What is a Down Syndrome?

Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that results in varying degrees of physical and intellectual disabilities.

The condition varies in severity, causing developmental problems that range from mild to severe. The disorder occurs as a result of extra genetic material.

In most people, the genes are contained on 23 pairs of chromosomes, for . . . Read More »

What is difference between Hearing Loss and Deaf?

The deaf and hard of hearing community is diverse.

There are variations in the cause and degree of hearing loss, age of onset, educational background, communication methods, and how individuals feel about their hearing loss.

How people “label” or identify themselves is personal and may reflect . . . Read More »

What is Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable disorder that can cause a variety of symptoms, which for many, can flare-up and then subside over the course of days, months, or even years. While MS is not contagious, its causes are not yet fully understood and researchers continue to search for answers.

MS . . . Read More »

What is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic and progressive movement disorder, meaning that symptoms continue and worsen over time.

Nearly one million people in the US are living with Parkinson’s disease. The cause is unknown, and although there is presently no cure, there are treatment options such as medication and surgery to manage its . . . Read More »

What is Post Polio Syndrome?

Post-polio syndrome is a new condition that affects the survivors of polio decades after the acute illness of poliomyelitis.

The major symptoms are pain, fatigue and weakness. New weakness is considered the hallmark of post-polio syndrome. Less commonly, survivors may have new sleep/breathing/swallowing problems and some survivors may also experience muscle . . . Read More »

What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a debilitating skin condition that can affect the elbows, knees, scalp, lower back, face and indeed, any part of the body, including the genital area. It may also affect the fingernails and toenails making them thick and discolored.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease of scaling and inflammation that affects 2 to . . . Read More »