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20th Century

The 20th century had some of the most significant changes in how the disabled were treated medically. In the early 20th century new inventions regarding treatment were integrated into United States treatment centers such as the lobotomy and hydrotherapy techniques. Towards the end of the century reform movements regarding disability rights affected treatment plans and hospitals. The federal government got involved in funding and providing better access to varying treatments. The United States as a whole started moving towards more ethical treatments throughout the 20th century as psychiatrists and other medical positions specializing in specific disabilities became more integrated into hospitals and other treatment centers

Mental and Developmental Disabilities

In the 20th century mental disabilities and mental illnesses were becoming more easily distinguished and treated differently. That said, some treatments covered were created to treat many different aspects of the brain. Lobotomy, Mental Hospitals, and PTSD treatment for veterans were popular ways to treat mental disabilities during the 20th century.

Lobotomy

Frontal-leukotomy

One of the most notable treatments for the brain occurring in the 20th century was the lobotomy. The lobotomy was invented in 1935 by Portuguese Neurologist Egas Moniz. The lobotomy was a surgical procedure performed on the brain that targeted the frontal lobe, which is the part of the human brain that controls emotional response. The reason the lobotomy targeted this particular lobe was to reduce stress and other negative emotions to cure disabilities .

Treatment for Veterans

During the 20th century, mental hospitals started transitioning away from broad treatment for those with diverse disabilities to more specific treatment for each patient. This more specialized treatment especially sparked post-World War II when veterans were left dealing with PTSD symptoms. An example of a place where veterans were treated for their mental disabilities was in a specialized section of the Massachusetts General Hospital called the Zander Room. The Zander Room included many new technologies to treat patients' physical and mental disabilities. Many veterans were sent there to be treated for their disabilities. They had access to physiotherapists and psychiatrists who treated them until they were rehabilitated and ready to emerge in society once again.

Electroconvulsive Therapy

Winwick Hospital, Electroconvulsive therapy, 1957 (14466087218)

Electroconvulsive Therapy or ECT for short is a medical treatment that involves sending electrical currents through the brain . ECT was created by Italian neurologists Ugo Cerletti and Lucio Bini in 1938. Their invention quickly spread to North America and was a common practice in the United States in the late 20th century. ECT was often used to treat a wide range of mental disabilities . Autism, ADHD, OCD, and other mental disorders were often misunderstood during the 20th century, therefore, most doctors treated them all the same way through ECT. ECT was used as a broad treatment plan for those experiencing any mania. Specific treatments, therapy, and medications for each separate illness and disability wouldn’t become used in the public until the 21st century.

Physical Disabilities

Similar to the treatments of PTSD post World War II, many emerging physical disabilities were a result of World War II. many new inventions emerged to treat both veterans and other U.S. citizens struggling with physical disabilities including blindness, deafness, amputees, and more.

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy became an emerging treatment in the 20th century because of its accessibility. The only factor involved in hydrotherapy was water. A patient with a physical disability would be completely submerged in water. The theory was the cold water drew the blood out of the diseased part of the body, curing the patient. This specific treatment was typically used to treat skin conditions as well as infected amputations.

Epilepsy Treatment

Epilepsy is a brain disorder that presents itself in the form of repetitive strokes or seizures, as to why it is classified as a physical disability. A turning point for finding a cure, or a way to prevent epilepsy occurred in 1912 when Alfred Hauptmann, a German psychiatrist, and neurologist discovered anticonvulsant properties in phenobarbital . Phenobarbital is a drug that is now commonly used to prevent seizures in patients with Epilepsy.

Treatments for the Deaf

Electronic hearing aids were invented early in the 19th century but didn’t become a common practice until the 20th century. Ideas for treating the deaf with hearing aids actually sparked from Thomas Edison’s decision to make improvements to the design of the telephone in 1870. This inspired Miller Reese Hutchinson, an American inventor, to invent the very first electronic hearing aid in 1898. By the 20th century, advancements had been made to this new technology, and became a popular way to treat the deaf.

Government Effect of Disability Treatment

The reason disability treatments in the United States were able to have significant developments in the 20th century was due to government interference. The Disability Rights Movement became increasingly popular in the 19th century and as a result pressure on the government to support employment and rights for people with disabilities. The government responded to this by creating laws to support disabled citizens and to help develop treatments. Simultaneously, respect for World War II veterans and disabled citizens as a whole led to reforms in treatments. Still, many controversial treatments occurred during the 20th including sterilization and shock treatments.

Eugenic Sterilization Law(1907)

In Indiana, the state governor passed a state legislature in 1907 that called for involuntary sterilization. Sterilization is the act of preventing someone from having babies. During the 20th century, it was a common opinion that people with significant mental and physical disabilities should not be allowed to reproduce. People receiving this involuntary sterilization included “criminals, idiots, imbeciles, and rapists”. Limiting their control over rights to make decisions for their body was one way the government interfered with treatment for the disabled.

The Rehabilitation Act(1973)

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was set in place by the federal government to end discrimination in programs that were funded by the federal government. This not only allowed for more opportunities for people with physical and mental limitations to join the workforce but also gave treatment centers more resources to rehabilitate individuals. From then on, advancements in treatments happened rapidly.

The Americans with Disabilities Act(1990)

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 of the ADA is one of the most infamous laws associated with the Disability Rights Movement because it was extremely influential. It covered many different aspects of disability rights including, employment, public accommodations, and even better access to disability services and treatments. Title II of the ADA included access to financial aid in regard to hospitals and clinics that provide treatments and other resources, especially to the deaf.