Those dealing with mental disorders that constitute disabilities may feel concerned that these disorders have not been present for their entire lives. They may wonder what they did to cause their disorder or how it could have been prevented.
The truth is that they may not have done anything — and nothing they did could have prevented their disorder from developing. In many cases, these disorders are caused by changes and mutations within the body. These do take time to reach a point where they constitute a disorder, but some early signs and factors are often present even at birth. The impact just is not seen until later.
Schizophrenia is an example of a mental disorder that manifests in adulthood
One of the best examples of this is schizophrenia. It is almost never found in children and developing it before the age of 13 is considered very rare. Even when it shows up before someone is 18 years of age, that’s considered quite early and very uncommon.
Most of the time, a person reaches at least their mid-20s before they start to see any symptoms. They may be in their late 20s or even moving into their 30s. It’s also possible that the condition could begin to manifest and not be serious enough to draw attention, only becoming clear as the person grows older and that development continues. Every case is different and every patient is unique.
What are your options for benefits when you suffer from a late-onset disorder?
If you have a late-onset disorder that is now making it impossible for you to work in your chosen field, despite being successful in that field before, you need to know what options you have. It’s important to have an experienced law firm on your side. Social Security Disability claims are notoriously difficult to win, so take the appropriate steps to help yourself gain an edge.