Descriptions of impairment

FOI 24/25-1473 DOCUMENT 39

Descriptions of impairment categories SGP KP Publishing

       Exported on 2025-04-02 22:27:37

SGP KP Publishing – Descriptions of impairment categories

Table of Contents

1 Recent updates …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4 2 Impairment categories …………………………………………………………………………………………… 5 3 References ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6

                                                                       Table of Contents – 2

SGP KP Publishing – Descriptions of impairment categories

This article provides guidance for an access delegate to understand the impairment categories when deciding what categories to select for a person that meets the eligibility requirements.

                                                                     Recent updates – 3

SGP KP Publishing – Descriptions of impairment categories

1 Recent updates

14 October 2024 New guidance to: * reflect legislation changes from 3 October 2024 * understand the impairment categories when deciding what categories to select for a person that meets the eligibility requirements.

                                                                     Recent updates – 4

SGP KP Publishing – Descriptions of impairment categories

2 Impairment categories

1. Intellectual: Such as how you speak and listen, read and write, solve problems, and
   process and remember information.

An intellectual impairment may be considered a developmental disorder as it becomes apparent at an early age1. Without these skills, a person needs additional supports to succeed at school, work, or independent life. Conditions such as down’s syndrome and cerebral palsy may be associated with intellectual impairments. 2. Cognitive: Such as how you think, learn new things, use judgment to make decisions, and pay attention.

Cognitive impairment involves various aspects of high-level mental functions and processes
   such as attention, memory, knowledge, decision-making, planning, reasoning,
   judgment, perception, comprehension, language, and visuospatial function. There are
  some similarities with intellectual impairments however, cognitive impairments generally
  become apparent at a later stage in life and are associated with brain injury or
    pathology1. Conditions such as dementia and traumatic brain injury may cause
    cognitive impairments.
3. Neurological: Such as how your body functions.

Neurological impairments happen when there's a change in function of the nervous system,
   which includes the brain and spinal cord2. Damage to either or both areas can affect the
  way the nervous system processes information. Parkinsons disease, epilepsy and
    multiple sclerosis3 are conditions which have a neurological basis.
4. Sensory: Such as how you see or hear.

Sensory impairment most commonly relates to hearing or visual loss but can include all senses2. 5. Physical: Such as the ability to move parts of your body.

Physical impairment may cause limitations in posture control, moving and coordinating
    parts of the body or in stamina2. There are many conditions which can cause a physical
   impairment including amputation of a limb, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, heart disease.
6. Psychosocial: This means you have reduced capacity to do daily life activities and tasks
  due to your mental health.

Participants with a psychosocial impairment may find it hard to engage in education,
     training and employment or engage with the community. Mental health conditions such
   as bipolar affective disorder and schizophrenia are commonly associated with
    psychosocial impairments1 but other conditions such as autism could also have
    associated psychosocial impairments.

To learn more about impairment categories, go to article Impairment categories guide.

                                                                   Impairment categories – 5

SGP KP Publishing – Descriptions of impairment categories

3 References

1 The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edition. DSM-5, American Psychiatric Association, 2013). 2 International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health: ICF. Geneva. World Health Organisation, 2001. 3 World Health Organisation (WHO), (1983). The ICD-10 classification of mental and behavioural disorders. World Health Organisation.

                                                                           References – 6