School and Epilepsy
Be Involved in Your Child's School Experience
Children with epilepsy have the same range of intelligence as other
children and often epilepsy itself has no effect on intelligence or
ability.
Children with epilepsy do, however, have a higher rate of learning
problems and difficulty in school than those without the condition. This
may be influenced by many factors including the side effects of
medication, the child’s anxiety, the teacher’s attitude, the underlying
neurological cause of the epilepsy, and/or the seizures themselves.
Medication
Seizure medication can affect learning. Some medications have side
effects that result in hyperactivity or interfere with concentration or
memory
Anxiety
Teachers’ attitudes
While effective teachers may employ strategies to accommodate and
encourage your child in the classroom, there are occasionally teachers
who assume that a child with epilepsy has a lower potential than other
students. As a result, the teacher may influence the child’s academic
development because of reduced expectations.
Neurological causes
In some cases, the underlying neurologic problem causing epilepsy may
also result in learning problems. For example, if the
condition results in problems in the association areas of the brain,
letter recognition or the recollection of word meaning could be affected
resulting in poor school performance.
Seizures
Seizures may affect learning. For example, children experiencing absence
seizures throughout the day will have their learning experience
continually disrupted. Memory can also be affected following complex
partial seizures or tonic clonic seizures. This could result in learning
challenges.
Communicating with Teachers and Staff
Each year meet with your child’s teachers. Discuss the academic and
social impact that epilepsy may have on your child and inform the
teachers on how to help your child should he or she have a seizure.
Assure that the school has a
medical record on file with important information regarding doctors,
medications, seizure descriptions, allergies, other medical conditions,
and first aid instructions.
Social Interaction
Sometimes children face ridicule, teasing, or prejudice from
schoolmates. Peers may not understand the condition and children can
sometimes be unkind. If your child is having this experience, then
discuss his or her concerns and talk about options on how your child
could cope with the reactions of others.
Helping Others to Understand
Consider arranging an in-service to your local school through your
epilepsy association. This will provide staff and students with
information regarding the condition. Many epilepsy associations have
trained staff members who will visit schools and talk about epilepsy in
order to educate others.
Some epilepsy associations offer an educational puppet program called
Kids on the Block (KOB). KOB uses life-sized colorful puppets to
teach the students and staff about epilepsy. A puppet troupe may be
available to visit your child’s school and present an entertaining
production.
School Act
Find out about the education policies in your area in order to find the
best school placement for your child. For example, in Alberta, the
School Act requires school boards to provide an education for every
individual who on September 1st of a year is six years of age or older
and is younger than 19 years of age. In many cases, a regular classroom
is considered the appropriate placement for a child with special needs
because of the increased opportunities to participate with peers of the
same age. In cases where a student has complex or severe learning and/or
behavioral needs, other placements may be considered.
Under the Act in Alberta, a student is entitled to have access to a
special education program if it is considered necessary.
In finding the best placement, parents should consider what environment
best meets the overall educational needs of their child as well as what
is best for all of the students in the classroom and the school.
If a parent disagrees with a decision by school staff or the local
school board on issues such as identification, evaluation, placement, or
programs, a dispute resolution process and formal appeal procedure are
in place in Alberta. For information regarding children with special
needs, contact your local epilepsy association or in Alberta, the
Special Education Branch, Alberta Learning.
Your Expectations
If your child does experience learning setbacks or problems,
try not to allow your expectations to create stress or feelings of
failure in your child. Your child’s self-esteem and motivation could be
negatively affected by unrealistic expectations. Try to focus on your
child’s potential rather than on his or her limitations.
Allow Participation in Sports and Activities
Children with epilepsy should be encouraged to participate in social and
recreational activities and sports. Socializing with other children
builds self-esteem. Recreational activities and sports enhance well
being and maintain health. There is some evidence that regular exercise
may improve seizure control.
When deciding which recreational activities and sports are appropriate
for your child, parents may want to match activities with their child’s
degree of seizure control.
Tennis, basketball, volleyball, track and field, baseball, jogging,
hiking, golfing and cross-country skiing are just a few of the
activities for children with epilepsy to enjoy. Summer day camps or
overnight camps may offer your child the opportunity to develop
confidence and self-esteem.
Some forms of recreation require extra caution. For instance, if a child
has uncontrolled seizures, swimming is not advisable without constant
supervision. Swimming with a companion, preferably an experienced
swimmer, is recommended for anyone who has seizures. Swimming in a pool
is safer than swimming in open water.
Some sports or recreational activities pose risks for those with
epilepsy and participation should be dependent on a doctor’s
recommendation.
Sports that involve body contact such as hockey, soccer, and football or
impact sports such as boxing and karate pose extra risks due to the
potential for head injury. Bicycling and horse back riding could pose
risks. Some activities such as scuba diving, rock climbing, and
parachuting are not advised for people with epilepsy as they are
considered to be too dangerous. Use of appropriate safety gear
(e.g. helmets, flotation devices, etc.) and avoidance of related
problems such as low blood sugar, dehydration, or overexertion which
could increase the risk of seizures, are also important.
Lifeguards, coaches, counselors, etc. should be informed about your
child’s condition, seizure medications, and how to respond should a
seizure occur.