Transitioning to Independence
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Living well with hydrocephalus is no longer an impossible dream. While many challenges remain, along with associated conditions that may affect quality of life, it is now reasonable to think that young adults diagnosed in infancy or childhood with hydrocephalus can live full, productive, happy, and satisfying lives.
What You Need to Know
Independence with Hydrocephalus: Possible or Not?
Transitioning from living at home with your family to living independently is an exciting moment in your life. However, it can present unique challenges when you have a chronic condition. There are added considerations to keep in mind before taking that step.
Medical Alert IDs and Hydrocephalus
Without proper identification of a medical condition like hydrocephalus, common symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness, sleepiness, and vomiting can be misdiagnosed and appropriate care could be jeopardized or delayed.
Hydrocephalus and Independence
If you are considering living on your own for the first time, but you have hydrocephalus and question if it’s possible? You’ve come to the right place. HA Volunteer, Madeleine Darowiche, shares her personal experiences about living on her own for the first time.
Driving and Hydrocephalus
Receiving a driver’s license is often a rite of passage into adulthood. For many of us, it means independence and self-control. For the most part, hydrocephalus does not limit your ability to drive. However, it’s not uncommon for individuals with hydrocephalus to experience challenges with depth perception, processing speed, reaction timing, coordination, short term memory, vision, and orientation or navigational issues. Driving is a privilege and comes with many responsibilities. If you have cognitive or physical impairments the decision to move forward to get your license should not be taken lightly.
Does hydrocephalus have an impact on one’s ability to drive?
In this video, Aida Weber, OTR/L, LDI, CDRS discusses how to obtain a driving assessment to see if there is an impact on your driving skills and why it would be important to have an assessment. Become more knowledgeable about the implications for participating in a driving assessment and what to expect. Gain a better understanding of the various types of adaptive equipment for individuals with a physical disability in conjunction with hydrocephalus.
Download HydroAssist™
HydroAssist™ is the first mobile app that allows you to record and store your hydrocephalus treatment history and access it when you need it from your mobile device.