Mucopolysaccharidosis Type III (MPS III) and Social Security Disability
Social Security Disability Lawyer
Typically, applying for and receiving social security disability benefits can take many months. But what if your disabling condition is so severe that you cannot wait? Mucopolysaccharidosis type III (MPS III) is a disabling condition on the Compassionate Allowance List, which qualifies an individual for an expedited approval process.
What is MPS III?
MPS III, also known as Sanfilippo syndrome, is a genetic disorder. It is a lysosomal storage disease wherein an enzyme deficiency in the lysosomes (cellular structures that metabolize unwanted materials into substances useful to the cells) leads to an accumulation of fats, proteins, and sugars in the body’s cells. The abnormal accumulation of these sugars in the body has devastating, degenerative effects on an individual’s physical and cognitive capacities. In MPS III, the body lacks sufficient levels of specific enzymes responsible for breaking down long chains of sugars. There are four types of MPS III: A, B, C, and D. Each type is caused by a different enzyme deficiency. MPS III presents in early childhood. It produces the mildest physical symptoms of the MPS diseases, though the intellectual and cognitive deficits are more pronounced in MPS III than in some of the other MPS diseases. There is no cure for MPS III. Most affected individuals do not survive beyond their teenage years.
MPS III Symptoms
Some of the symptoms of MPS III include:
- Unusual facial features (flat face, depressed nasal bridge, bulging forehead)
- Enlarged liver and spleen
- Mental retardation
- Behavioral problems
- Sleep disturbances
- Developmental delays
- Deformed bones and stiff joints
- Hearing loss
- Respiratory difficulties
- Increased pain tolerance
- Chronic diarrhea
- Short stature
If you or a loved one is experiencing these symptoms, it is important to talk with a doctor immediately.
Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits and MPS III
MPS III automatically qualifies you for social security disability benefits under the Social Security Administration’s guidelines. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with MPS III, then you are considered disabled for at least 24 months from the date of diagnosis.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with MPS III, contact an experienced social security disability lawyer today. Please call us at 1-800-882-5500 or fill out a free consultation form for a free evaluation of your social security disability case.