Duration Of Impairment to Determine Substantially Limiting

Duration Of Impairment to Determine Substantially Limiting Duration of an impairment does not, by itself, determine whether the impairment substantially limits an individual's major life activities. It is just one factor to be considered with all of the other relevant information. An impairment may be long lasting or permanent but still not constitute a substantial limitation to major life activities. For example, a permanently injured finger is not substantially limiting if it does not significantly restrict an individual's ability to perform a major life activity such as performing manual tasks or caring for oneself. Thus, when determining whether an impairment substantially limits a major life activity, one must consider the severity of the limitation caused by the impairment as well as the duration of the limitation. An impairment is substantially limiting if it lasts for more than several months and significantly restricts the performance of one or more major life activities during that time. It is not substantially limiting if it lasts for only a brief time or does not significantly restrict an individual's ability to perform a major life activity.