In updating the listings of certain disorders for the DSM-5, a number of changes were made to the definitions and what doctors should look for when attempting to diagnose a patient with long term disability. One of the disorders that significantly changed in the latest iteration of the DSM is conversion disorder, or functional neurological symptom disorder.
So, what exactly are they going to be looking for if you file a claim saying that you suffer from this disorder?
Altered motor or sensory function. You’ll need to display at least one symptom that shows that your voluntary motor or sensory functioning has been altered.
Symptoms don’t match other conditions. There will need to be clinical findings showing evidence that the symptoms you’re displaying don’t correspond with any known medical or neurological conditions. Along these lines, none of the issues that you are experiencing should be able to be explained better by fitting them under the umbrella of a separate mental or medical disorder.
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Symptoms are serious. This means, essentially, that you can show that you are dealing with symptoms that make it difficult for you to function in an occupational, social, or other way. Some examples of this include:
- You find yourself regularly paralyzed or weak.
- You suffer from physical movements that are abnormal, such as tremors or those associated with gait disorder).
- You have issues when you try to swallow.
- You suffer from slurred speech or other similar difficulties.
- You are dealing with seizures or another kind of attack.
- You experience numbness or a loss of sensation.
- You have disturbances related to your other senses – hearing, seeing, or smell.
- You suffer from a number of mixed symptoms.
If symptoms have been around for less than six months, your condition will be labeled as an “acute episode.” However, if the symptoms have been ongoing for six months or longer, it is a “persistent episode.” Doctors will also try to determine whether a psychological stressor is involved or not and identify what that stressor is if one is believed to exist.
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By knowing what medical and insurance professionals will be looking for when they evaluate your conversion disorder claim, you can give yourself the best chance at qualifying for the benefits that you need. Read our free Disability Insurance Policies eBook for more information on how the claims process works, and then contact one of our experienced long term disability lawyers to talk more about your specific situation.
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