Is Tourettes a Disability?

According to the law, Tourette Syndrome can be classified as a disability if it significantly inhibits significant life activities. Fully understanding this designation requires an in-depth exploration of what Tourette Syndrome entails, its various forms, and its considerable impact on the individuals living with it.

What is Tourette Syndrome?

To answer “What is Tourettes?” we must delve into the world of neurology. Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder marked by involuntary, repetitive movements or sounds known as tics. These tics emerge predominantly during childhood. Some children with Tourette‘s may experience lessening symptoms as they mature. However, the symptoms may persist into adulthood for others, profoundly affecting their everyday lives.

Symptoms of Tourette’s Syndrome

The symptoms of people with Tourette‘s Syndrome are primarily known as tics, which are involuntary, repetitive movements or sounds. These tics engage a range of muscle groups and can be classified into two types: 

1. Motor tics: Motor tics are involuntary physical movements that could involve any part of the body, but often they target the most noticeable parts: the face and shoulders. People might suddenly jerk their heads, shrug their shoulders, or blink their eyes repeatedly. 

These actions are often swift, repetitive, and can’t be controlled by the individual. They may occur singularly or in series. While some are barely noticeable, others can be more disruptive, impeding daily activities, and include sudden movements such as eye blinking, shrugging, or jerking.

1. Vocal Tics: Individuals with Tourette’s syndrome may experience involuntary vocalizations or verbalization deemed socially inappropriate or out of place. These vocal tics may range from simple noises like grunts or coughs to more complex verbal expressions.

These symptoms notably fluctuate over time, with individual cases varying significantly in frequency and intensity.

Types of Tourette’s

As we delve deeper into the types of Tourette’s, we can differentiate between two main categories. Each class presents unique challenges to those diagnosed, affecting different aspects of their lives.

1. Simple Tourette: Involves sudden, brief tics that utilize a limited number of muscle groups.  Simple Tourette’s could be compared to a single note played on a piano, an abrupt, isolated incident, like an eye twitch or a shrug. 

     2. Complex Tourette: Includes more complex and coordinated sequences of movements spanning several muscle groups. Complex Tourette’s is akin to a chord, where multiple notes are struck simultaneously, leading to more complicated arrangements such as stepping in a particular pattern or involuntarily uttering specific phrases. 

Can You Get Disability Benefits for Tourette s Syndrome?

The quest to obtain Tourettes Social Security disability benefits can often be challenging due to the condition’s unpredictable nature. However, it’s possible to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) if the symptoms substantially interfere with daily activities or the ability to work. The crucial part of this process lies in effectively demonstrating to the Social Security Administration (SSA) that the individual’s Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) — what they can do despite their condition — is significantly limited.

How to Apply for Tourette’s Disability?

If you want to apply for Social Security Disability, you may begin assembling all relevant medical records and documentation. This could include a formal diagnosis of Tourette Syndrome, treatment history, and comprehensive accounts of how the condition impacts daily life and work. With these, individuals can apply for SSDI benefits online, via phone, or in person at a SSA office.

The application for Tourette’s disability benefits may contain a thorough report of the individual’s capacity to work and their limitations due to their condition. This account should highlight the severity and frequency of both motor and vocal tics and their impact on the individual’s work performance.

To be eligible for SSDI, the SSA requires that an individual be incapable of performing any substantial gainful activity (SGA) due to a medical condition. In 2023, this means possibly earning $1,350 or less per month. Furthermore, the individual must have earned enough work credits, typically about ten years. The medical condition must also be expected to last at least one year or result in death.

The SSA may determine that an individual can perform other work despite their RFC, in which case they may not be eligible for SSDI. Therefore, a comprehensive RFC outlining the severity of Tourette’s symptoms and their impact on the individual’s ability to work is a pivotal element of the application.

Need Legal Help? Contact a Disability Attorney

Navigating the pathway to securing disability benefits for Tourette Syndrome can be daunting and often necessitates the guidance of an experienced legal professional. For individuals seeking such benefits, having a seasoned colorado disability attorney to evaluate their case can prove invaluable.

Our well-respected law firm specializes in obtaining SSDI benefits for clients with various conditions, including those with Tourette’s Syndrome disability. Our expert team comprehends the complexities of disability law. We work diligently to ensure individuals with Tourette Syndrome have the best possible chance of securing their rightful benefits.

Tourette Syndrome can qualify for disability under specific circumstances. Moreover, professional help is available. Don’t let your medical condition dictate the course of your life. 

Reach out to Chermol & Fishman, LLC today for a consultation. Let us assist you in securing your Tourettes disability benefits. Together, we can navigate this legal journey, giving you the best possible opportunity to reclaim control over your life’s narrative. Your story is not solely defined by Tourette Syndrome; it’s just one chapter, and there are many more to write. Let’s write them together!