Impairment is concerned with abnormalities in the structure or functioning of the body
or its parts, disability with the performance of activities and handicap with the broader social and psychological consequences of living with impairment and disability (Scambler, 2008, p.86). Growing up, the word handicap was always used as a synonym for impairment and disability even though the three words have different meanings. As I matured, I realized that this was only the common sense language. Many persons may be impaired but not disabled or handicapped while some persons might be classified under all three. A plausible human example to explain the relationship between impairment, disability and handicap is a person born with a birth defect such as a cleft lip; this would be impaired. This person would not be disabled as the cleft lip would not prevent him from carrying out activities in his daily life. However, he may be handicapped by this birth defect in that social attitude towards physical attractiveness may lower his self esteem and eventually he may have problems forming a romantic relationship. This example illustrates that impairment may lead to a handicap even if there is no disability.
Reference: Scambler, G. (2008). Sociology as Applied to Medicine (6th Ed.) (pp 86-87). London UK