Teachers have an important role in your
future and the future of all children. To make sure each child
with epilepsy has the opportunity to develop to their full
ability, teachers need to understand what effects seizure
and epilepsy may have on learning. This includes:
- The
many different types of epilepsy and seizures
- What
to do if a seizure happens at school
- What
to look out for
- How
the seizures can affect learning
- What
effects the medications can have
- How
to the student best learns and gets the most out of school
What
is Epilepsy
Epilepsy is when seizures are likely to happen - because of
temporary abnormal activity in the brain cells. Some seizures
are not epilepsy.
Not
all seizures are convulsions or major fits. Some seizures
are more difficult to make out and are frequently mistaken
for other things.
Things
like:
-
Daydreaming
- Not
reacting to friends or the teacher,
- Being
vague or confused
- Acting
strangely - wandering, fidgeting, chewing, mumbling
- Not
being able to speak temporarily
may
all be signs of seizures.
The
Epilepsies
There are many types of epilepsy. Some children may have what
we call an epilepsy syndrome. Syndromes are classified because
there is:
-
One or more type of certain seizure/s.
- A
known cause OR no apparent cause.
- Sometimes
no other neurological problems, sometimes many other problems.
- Certain
response to some medications.
- A
tendency to outgrow the syndrome or a tendency to get worse.
So
if a certain syndrome is diagnosed, the doctor may be able
to tell you what to expect. This does not always happen because
everybody is different
Epilepsy
and Learning Difficulties
Learning problems do not always happen with epilepsy. Most
children with epilepsy will achieve both at school and socially.
Some children will, however, experience some level of learning
difficulties, and this is when the school and teachers will
help.
Learning difficulties depend on a number of things such as:
-
The epilepsy syndrome
- The
type of seizure(s)
- When
and how often the seizures happen - some people only have
seizures in their sleep
- How
long it takes to recover from a seizure
- What
type and how much medication is being taken
- What
part of the brain the seizures are coming from
- Any
existing damage to the brain
Seizures
and medication can affect many areas including:
-
Concentration and attention
- Learning
ability
- Memory
- Physical
abilities eg. some side effects of medications include unsteadiness
and tremor
Some
areas children with epilepsy may experience problems with:
- Reading,
spelling, numeracy, off-by-heart learning,
- Speech
and language, either expressing themselves or understanding
others
- Problem
solving and memory recall
- Motor
ability and coordination- handwriting may be poor and performance
slower
- Not
feeling good about themself - low self-esteem frustration,
anxiety, and poor motivation
- Out
of place behaviour- attention seeking or withdrawal
Further
difficulties can be created by:
- Unrealistic
expectations (above or below the child's abilities) by parents,
teachers and peers
- Differing
family backgrounds
- Money
factors
Ideas
for Teachers
Group Work
Group work develops listening and talking skills, encourages
contact with peers with problem solving and allows children
to ask questions and learn from each other.
Breaking
Down Tasks
The breaking down of specific tasks into their most
basic steps. This creates teaching and learning stages. Task
analysis can be applied to any learning or social situation
activity.
Cueing
Cueing proves effective especially with listening
activities. Tell the child, ahead of time,the purpose of the
activity. Give a quick summary and ask questions to see if
they understand. Knowing the purpose of the activity will
help keep the student on task.
Reviewing
A review of the processes used in solving a complex
task can be very helpful for the child.
Repetition
Repetition leads to the combining of skills learnt in mastering
a task. These are then used to help with other learning tasks.
Mnemonics
Uses verbal, visual and symbolic methods as memory
aids. The most effective way for memory development and improvement
are rehearsal related.
Show this
article to your Mum and Dad
Dealing
with School
Teachers
Information Booklet
If you
have any more questions, email us
1300
EPILEPSY (1300 37 45 37)
Australia-Wide Priority Call |
