Sean O’Rourke | November 26, 2024

What Are the Top 10 Disabilities

More than 3.5 million Texas residents are living with a disability. That includes just over 11% of children and about 55% of Texans aged 75 and older. Disabled Texans make up nearly 7% of the state’s workforce, particularly in the construction and food service industries. 

While many disabled adults are able to work, they earn just 75% to 85% as much as their non-disabled counterparts. Nationwide, households with a person with a disability have a poverty rate three times higher and earn about $30,000 less than non-disabled households. 

Many children and adults with a disability rely on some type of disability program. 

The main sources of disability benefits include: 

  • Short-term and long-term disability insurance
  • Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • Veterans Affairs (VA)
  • Workers’ compensation

SSDI is the largest source of disability benefits. Here are the top ten disabilities according to the Social Security Administration’s 2023 SSDI Annual Statistical Report. 

1. Musculoskeletal Disorders (30%)

Disorders of the muscles, bones, joints, and connective tissues are the leading cause of disability. 

Musculoskeletal disorders include: 

  • Arthritis
  • Lower back pain
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Burns
  • Fractures
  • Loss of limb (amputation)

These disorders can be caused by repetitive strain, acute injuries, or degenerative conditions. 

2. Depressive Disorders (12%)

Overall, mental disorders are the most disabling type of condition, accounting for more than 34% of SSDI beneficiaries. Depressive disorders like major depression, dysthymia, and bipolar disorder are the most common type of mental disorder, affecting about 9.5% of adults in the U.S. Women are 50% more likely to have a depressive disorder, and anywhere from 25% to 41% of adults with a disability also have depression. 

3. Disorders of the Nervous System (10%)

Nervous system disorders affect the ability to transmit messages back and forth between the body and the brain. 

There are two main components of the nervous system: 

  • Central nervous system (CNS): brain and spinal cord
  • Peripheral nervous system (PNS): network of nerves and sensory organs

The PNS comprises the somatic nervous system controlling voluntary movement and the autonomic nervous system controlling involuntary movement. These components work together to control the ability to think, move, breathe, see, hear, and more.

Common nervous system disorders include: 

  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Brain injuries
  • Vision loss
  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
  • Multiple sclerosis (MS)

Nervous system disorders may affect the brain, spinal cord, or even specific types of nerves like sensory neurons, which transmit information from the senses, or motor neurons which control movement, swallowing and breathing. 

4. Intellectual Disorders (9%)

An intellectual disorder is defined as a condition diagnosed in childhood that impairs adaptive functioning, learning, and intelligence. Down syndrome is the most common genetic cause, while Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common inherited genetic cause. Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) are other common examples. 

5. Cardiovascular Disorders (6.7%)

Conditions of the heart, arteries, and veins are the fifth most common type of disability. 

Disabling cardiovascular or circulatory disorders include: 

  • Coronary artery disease (CAD)
  • Heart attack
  • Heart failure
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Heart valve disease
  • Stroke

Symptoms like difficulty breathing, reduced oxygen supply, chest pain, and fatigue can make it hard for people with cardiovascular disorders to perform basic tasks like walking or working even a low-impact job. Heart disease is the leading cause of death. About 20% of U.S. deaths are related to heart disease, a broad term referring to many cardiovascular diseases. 

6. Psychotic Disorders (4.7%)

Schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and postpartum depression (PPD) account for almost 5% of SSDI beneficiaries. These disorders can be severely disabling by causing an altered perception of reality, disordered thinking, hallucinations, and delusions. Psychosis causes sufferers to lose touch with reality, impairing the ability to tell what is real and what isn’t. 

7. Other Mental Disorders (4.5%)

A wide range of other mental disorders falls into this category, including: 

  • Eating disorders like anorexia nervosa
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Social anxiety disorder (SAD)

This does not include Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or developmental disabilities. 

8. Injuries (3.4%)

This category includes disabilities caused primarily by injuries like crush injuries, lacerations, sprains and strains, penetrating injuries, and complex fractures. These injuries are usually sustained in traffic crashes like car accidents and truck accidents, slip and fall accidents, or workplace accidents. 

9. Tumors (3.0%)

Malignant tumors or cancers are a common cause of disability. This includes prostate, breast, lung, colorectal, and bladder cancer, among others. Benign or non-cancerous tumors may also qualify for disability, most notably brain tumors. 

10. Dementia Or Major Neurocognitive Disorder (3.0%)

Major neurocognitive disorder (MND), commonly known as dementia, is one of the most common types of disability, particularly for older adults. About 70% of dementia cases are Alzheimer’s disease. MND comes in other forms like Parkinson’s disease, vascular dementia, and Lewy body dementia. 

A Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help if You’re Dealing With a Disability

Are you facing long-term or permanent disability after an accident in Houston, Texas? An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you. We will help you pursue the compensation you need to get quality care and secure your financial future. We can also help you explore your legal options for recovering money, including third-party claims in addition to workers’ compensation. 

For more information, please get in touch with the Houston personal injury attorneys at Simon & O’Rourke Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers at our nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.

Simon & O’Rourke Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers
440 Louisiana St Suite 2300-A, Houston, TX 77002
(281) 667-4081