What is the Difference Between Disability and Impairment?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The terms "impairment" and "disability" are often used in the context of health and functional limitations, but they have distinct meanings:
- Impairment: Refers to a problem with a structure or organ of the body, such as a loss of a limb, loss of vision, or memory loss. Impairments are usually the result of disease, illness, or injury and occur at the level of tissue or organs.
- Disability: Refers to a functional limitation with regard to a particular activity, resulting from an impairment. Disability means that a person has difficulty performing an activity, such as getting dressed or bathing without help, due to their impairment.
In summary, impairment is a loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological, or anatomical structure or function, while disability is the restriction or lack of ability to perform an activity due to the impairment.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Disability and Impairment? Comparative Table: Disability vs Impairment
Comparative Table: Disability vs Impairment
The difference between disability and impairment can be summarized in the following table:
| Term | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Impairment | A problem with an organ or structure of the body, resulting in a loss of normal physical or mental abilities. Impairments are usually the result of disease, illness, or injury and occur at the level of tissue or organs. | A person with a spinal cord injury may have impaired mobility, leading to paralysis. |
| Disability | A functional limitation or restriction in ability to perform an activity due to an impairment. Disability refers to the difficulty a person encounters in carrying out tasks or activities of daily life. | A person with paralysis may have difficulty walking or performing everyday tasks, such as dressing or bathing, due to their impaired mobility. |
In summary, impairment refers to the underlying problem with a structure or organ of the body, while disability refers to the resulting limitations or difficulties in performing activities or participating in daily life.
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