Unfortunately, balding is crippling (9)
I believe the answer is:
disabling
'crippling' is the definition.
('disabling' can be a synonym of 'crippling')
'unfortunately balding is' is the wordplay.
'unfortunately' indicates an anagram.
'balding'+'is'='baldingis'
'baldingis' with letters rearranged gives 'DISABLING'.
I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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