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A physical disability is a limitation on a person’s physical functioning or limitations in executing activities (e.g. walking or eating).[1][2] The term physical disability is very broad, and a range of disabilities are included. Some examples of physical disabilities include: blindness, deafness, respiratory disorders, epilepsy[3] and some genetic disorders. The severity of impairments and restriction in daily activities vary widely between different types of physical disability. An inclusive and accessible environment may mitigate many restrictions.[2]

The WHO does not differentiate between physical and mental disabilities.[2]

People with physical disabilities may face persecution and discrimination.

Causes

Physical disabilities can be caused by a variety of factors. While some physical disabilities can be acquired before birth (pre-natal), others might be a result of a physical injury or illness (post-natal). Some disabilities may be gained before or after birth, such as vision loss.

Prenatal disabilities are acquired before birth. These may be due to diseases or substances that the mother has been exposed to during pregnancy, embryonic or fetal developmental accidents or genetic disorders.[4] Perinatal disabilities are acquired between some weeks before to up to four weeks after birth in humans.[5] These can be due to prolonged lack of oxygen or obstruction of the respiratory tract, damage to the brain during birth (due to the early umbilical cord clamping, for example) or the baby being born prematurely. These may also be caused due to genetic disorders[4] or accidents.

Post-natal disabilities are gained after birth. Disabilities can be gained throughout the entire life. They can be due to accidents, injuries, obesity, infection or other illnesses. Research suggests the leading cause of post-natal disabilities to be road traffic injuries.[6]

Types

Physical disability is a broad term and includes many different types of impairments. Some might severly restrict a persons ability to execute daily functions and cause them to rely on the help of a care-taker, others might rely on assistive technology, such as a wheelchair or a hearing aid.

Mobility impairment includes limb loss or impairment,[7] poor manual dexterity, paraplegia and damage to one or multiple organs of the body. Depending on the condition, impairment varies widely in severity.

Sensory impairments include partial or complete loss of one (or more) of the senses. The most common sensory impairments are visual impairments and hearing loss. Deaf and hard of hearing people have a rich culture[8][9] and benefit from learning sign language for communication purposes.[10][11] People who are only partially deaf can sometimes make use of hearing aids to improve their hearing ability. While tactile, gustatory and olfactory disabilities do exist, they occur less common.[12]

Some people with disabilities might have multiple disabilities, such as one or more co-occurring cognitive and physical disability. These disabilities are usually pre-natal.[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^ “What is disability?”. Education to employment. National Disability Coordination Officer Program. University of Western Sydney. 2012. Archived from the original on July 24, 2013. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c World Health Organization; World Bank, eds. (2011). World report on disability. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization. ISBN 978-92-4-156418-2.
  3. ^ Physical Disabilities, California State University, Northridge
  4. ^ a b “Birth Defects Research & Prevention” (Government website). Bureau of Family Health and Nutrition. Massachusetts Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention. Boston: Department of Public Health. 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  5. ^ Wright, Joyce A. (22 January 2008). “Prenatal and Postnatal Diagnosis of Infant Disability: Breaking the News to Mothers”. Journal of Perinatal Education. 17 (3): 27–32. doi:10.1624/105812408X324543. PMC 2517190. PMID 19436417. ProQuest 1844560198.
  6. ^ “Beyond the numbers: estimating the disability burden of road traffic injuries”. GOV.UK. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  7. ^ “Mobility disabilities types and more”. www.medicalnewstoday.com. 2024-06-12. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
  8. ^ Cooke, Michele L. (2018-10-11). “What is my deaf way of science?”. UMass Magazine. University of Massachusetts Amherst. Archived from the original on 2019-05-03. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
  9. ^ Dolnick, Edward (September 1993). “Deafness as Culture”. The Atlantic. 272 (3): 37–53.
  10. ^ Mindess, Anna (2006). Reading Between the Signs: Intercultural Communication for Sign Language Interpreters. Sharon Neumann Solow, Thomas K. Holcomb. Boston: International Press. ISBN 978-1-931930-26-0. OCLC 829736204.
  11. ^ Barnett, Steven; McKee, Michael; Smith, Scott R.; Pearson, Thomas A. (15 February 2011). “Deaf Sign Language Users, Health Inequities, and Public Health: Opportunity for Social Justice”. Preventing Chronic Disease. 8 (2): A45. PMC 3073438. PMID 21324259.
  12. ^ “What is Sensory Disability?”. Pacific ADA Center. Retrieved 2026-03-24.

Further reading