Epilepsy
Melissa Grosdidier, Ian Allion, Danny Foster, Kelsey Furnell
Characteristics
- Blackouts or periods of confused memory
- Periods of staring and/or unexplained unresponsiveness
- Involuntary movement of arms or legs
- Fainting spells
- Excessive fatigue
- Odd sounds, distorted perceptions, feelings of fear that cannot be explained
How Doctors Identify Epilepsy
- Complete neurological consultation for epilepsy
- Neurophysiology tests such as EEG (electroencephalogram) which is a test to measure the electrical activity of the brain
- Long-term video EEG with internal and external measuring devises.
- Neuroimaging such as MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan) to measure magnetic pulses of the brain and PET scans (positron-emission tomography) which uses radioactive substances to look for brain abnormalities
- Psychological evaluation
- Speech and auditory processing evaluations
Prevalence
- Affects 2.2 million Americans
- Approximately 65 million world wide
- Strikes the oldest and youngest citizens most often
- As the baby boom age increases, so does the amount of people with epilepsy
- Fourth most common neurological disorder in the U.S.
Impact of Epilepsy on Cognitive Functioning
- Mental retardation
- 20-30% of patients affected
- Affects speech, language, attention, memory
- Learning problems that impact performance
Impact of Epilepsy on Socio-emotional Functioning
- Have more impaired self-concept
- Attributed social isolation and stigma as contributing factors
- Have difficulty in trying to feel good about themselves/ affects self-esteem
- Educators can play a big role in developing self-esteem in students
Impact of Epilepsy on Day-to-Day Functioning
- Anxiety and depression
- Defensive aggressiveness
- Poorer educational achievement
- Higher unemployment rates
- Lower marriage rates
Teaching Considerations
To address memory deficits
- Provide written or pictorial instructions
Use voice recordings of verbal instructions
Permit tape recording
Divide large tasks into smaller steps
Provide a checklist of assignments
Provide a calendar with due dates
Decrease memory demands during classwork and testing
To address health concerns
Be flexible about time missed from school to seek treatment
Provide extra time for assignments and a modified workload
Replace fluorescent lighting with full spectrum lighting
- Provide private area to rest or recover from a seizure
Controversial issues surrounding the students with this disability
People believe that students with epilepsy:
- Cannot be in regular classrooms
- Are not smart
- All fall to the ground and foam at the mouth when having seizures
- Are a distraction to other students
References
“Diagnosing Seizures & Epilepsy.” Hopkinsmedicine. Johns Hopkins Health System. n.d.
Web 27 March 2013.
“Psychiatric Disorders Associated With Epilepsy.” Pedro E. Fernandez-Frau. Medscape
Reference. 2011. Web 27 March 2013.
“Growing Up With Epilepsy: Teaching Students with Epilepsy, Strategies for Educators.”
Gretchen Timmel. MassGeneral.org. 2006. Web 27 March 2013.
Albert P. Aldenkamp, Johan Arends. Effects of epileptiform EEG discharges on cognitive
function: Is the concept of “transient cognitive impairment” still valid?, National Epilepsy
Foundation of the Netherlands, February 2004. Web.
“Epilepsy: NICHCY Disability Fact Sheet.” NICHCY. National Dissemination Center for
Children with Disabilities. 2010. Web 27 March 2013.