Patients with Asperger’s syndrome may be unable to work because of their disease and its related complications. Patients who find themselves unable to work because of their Asperger’s may qualify for long term disability (LTD) benefits. The insurance company will review their claim to see if they qualify under the conditions of that plan.
What is Asperger’s Syndrome?
Hans Asperger was an Austrian pediatrician who first noticed and described a condition in children who had difficulty conducting themselves socially. He called this “autistic psychopathy” in 1944. In 1981, an English doctor named Lorna Wing did a study of children with similar symptoms and referred to the disease as Asperger’s syndrome. It is also simply called Asperger’s or Asperger’s disorder. It is a developmental disorder found in children who have trouble effectively socializing with other people.
Asperger’s is one of a handful of developmental disorders that deal with social skills and communication, and is a milder variation of autistic disorder, affecting two out of every 10,000 children. Asperger’s syndrome is characterized chiefly by social isolation in children who fail to understand and empathize with others and frequently can’t make friends. Those with the illness have very limited interests, usually focusing on only one or two narrow topics to an obsessive extent. Their tendency to dominate conversations with discussion only about these topics is one of the more obvious social inconsistencies noticeable in the disease.
Asperger’s affects the child’s ability to speak with a normal comprehension, often straying in and out of topic and never reaching a point or even explaining the conversation’s base logic. The illness blocks the child’s ability to comprehend whether or not the listener is interested in the subject, and the ability to understand much humor is lost. Physical clumsiness is also common.
The cause of Asperger’s syndrome is debatable, though it is most likely a genetic disorder.
Qualifying for Long Term Disability
Working with an experienced disability attorney will give you the best chance of getting the benefits you deserve for your Asperger’s. Even if you have been denied benefits, that does not mean your fight is over. Many people are denied benefits the first time they apply. You have the right to file an appeal and try to get more information that may help your case. Getting expert help is often the difference between being denied and being approved for benefits.
While the process can be daunting, your experienced disability attorney will be able to guide you through the process. They do not get paid until you win your case. You can seek help without worrying about upfront costs or unexpected bills.
Though most children diagnosed with Asperger’s become better or are better able to adapt to adulthood, it can cause a significant amount of social and mental harm. If you or a loved one needs financial assistance because of this condition, contact disability lawyer Nick Ortiz at (888) 321-8131 for information on how to apply for disability benefits.