Impairment effects, disability and dry mouth: Exploring the public and private dimensions.
Existing accounts of dry mouth concentrate on the medical dimensions and almost completely neglect to consider its social dimensions. Simultaneously, debates on disability have highlighted an apparent split between the individual (medical) and social models of disability. The concept of 'impairment effects' aims to address this dichotomised approach. Impairment effects consider the everyday impact of people's impairments on their lives in conjunction with the disabling impacts encountered through their relations with society, and society's relations with them. This study indicates that identity and self became entangled with impairment effects and a form of disablism. The authors argue that impairment effects are, at times, a useful concept, but in some instances may actually overcomplicate things. By analysing the public and private dimensions of a chronic condition such as dry mouth, we have been enabled to explore the boundary between public and private lives. As a consequence, using public and private accounts may assist us to better locate the point where impairment ends and disability begins.
University of Sheffield, UK jan.owens@sheffield.ac.uk.
Janine
J
Owens
University of Sheffield, UK.
Barry John
BJ
Gibson
University of Sheffield, UK.
Karthik
K
Periyakaruppiah
University of Sheffield, UK.
Sarah Ruth
SR
Baker
University of Sheffield, UK.
Peter Glen
PG
Robinson
D000328:Adult; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D033262:Narration; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*
chronic illness and disability; experiencing illness and narratives; narrative analysis