Treatment of epilepsy

Medication can be prescribed that enables learners to lead normal lives, building up a resistance to seizures. However, there are a number of factors educators need to monitor and be aware of. Learners on medication for epilepsy should not appear drowsy, over-active or inattentive in school or have seizures. If such behavior is noted, then the parents and doctors need to be informed immediately, as the medication may well need adjusting. This can be a problem that is not easily corrected and parents may well make very different decisions that educators need to be aware of so that they can support the learner as well as possible.

Discussion

If a learner in your classroom is diagnosed as having a form of epilepsy, list the actions you would consider necessary to enable him/her to be beneficially included into the school and the class with regard to:

■ other pupils;

■ parents;

■ other adults in the classroom;

■ unstructured social opportunities;

■ school activities.

Note any particular clues that may indicate if the learner is about to have a seizure such as a change in behavior or in body temperature. This can be very helpful, because the removal of a jumper may prevent or lessen a seizure and other warnings may mean that the learner can be moved to a safer environment prior to a fit or seizure. An adult can learn to notice these changes and quickly support the learner without too much fuss.

Learners may be very embarrassed if they know that their peers have witnessed a fit, especially if they lose bladder control or salivate. The educators need to handle this extremely sensitively, educating the other pupils so that teasing or an unwillingness to socialize with the learner with epilepsy does not occur. It must be remembered that if adults treat the learner with epilepsy with respect at all times and with the same high learning expectations as everyone else, then this will encourage the other learners to do the same.

Epilepsy is only one of many medical difficulties that learners can experience when attending an educational setting, but one that can be used as a pattern for other similar problems.

مواضيع ذات صلة

Other factors that affect learning: epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, puberty and mental health issues Key issues

How can educators identify learners at risk of mental health problems?

So what are mental health problems and mental health disorders?

Child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS)

Educating school-age parents

Puberty

Learners unable to attend school due to medical needs Case study 1

Learners unable to attend school due to medical needs Case study 1

Learners unable to attend school due to medical needs

Other factors that affect learning HIV/AIDS

Treatment of epilepsy Case study 2

Treatment of epilepsy Case study 1