Other Health Other Health ImpairmentImpairment

Lolita Siguenza Lolita Siguenza Eleanor QuichochoEleanor Quichocho

ED443G Adaptive Assistive TechnologyED443G Adaptive Assistive TechnologyDr. Jacqui CyrusDr. Jacqui Cyrus

November 20, 2008November 20, 2008

IDEA DefinitionIDEA Definition

Other health impairment means having limited strength, vitality or alertness, including a heightened alertness to environmental stimuli, that results in limited alertness with respect to the educational environment, that:

(i) is due to chronic or acute health problems such as asthma, attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, diabetes, epilepsy, a heart condition, hemophilia, lead poisoning, leukemia, nephritis, rheumatic fever, and sickle cell anemia; and(ii) adversely affects a child's educational performance [34 C.F.R. 300.7(c)(9)]

ObjectivesObjectivesAt the end of this presentation,

you should be able to:• Describe characteristics of other

health impairments.• Understand causes of other health

impairments.• Lists accommodations and strategies

to implement in the classroom

These students are unable to function physically and/or academically with peers of the same age and grade expectancy level. They require the provision of specialized instructional services and modification in order to participate in the school program.

CharacteristicsCharacteristics Child may miss school frequently

for Dr. appointments or illnesses May have physical restrictions Inattentiveness due to health

impairment and/or medications Other medication side effects, such

as, increased thirst Academic lags

Common OHICommon OHI1. Asthma2. ADD3. ADHD4. DiabetesThese health conditions impair a student’sability to perform successfully in theireducation UNLESS MODIFICATIONS AREMADE.

ASTHMAASTHMAAsthma is a chronic inflammatorydisease of the airway“ that causesthe following symptoms:• Shortness of breath • Tightness in the chest • Coughing • Wheezing

AsthmaAsthma continuation continuation

Asthma has no set pattern. Its symptoms:

• Can be mild, moderate or severe • Can vary from person to person • Can flare up from time to time • Can vary from one episode to the next • The cause of asthma is not known, and currently there is no cure.

Attention Deficit Attention Deficit Hyperactive DisorderHyperactive Disorder

ADHD: Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is

a condition that can make it hard for a person to sit still, control behavior, and pay attention. These difficulties usually begin before the age of seven, but often may not be noticed until the child is older.

DiabetesDiabetes Diabetes is a chronic illness in which the body does not produce insulin (type 1) or does not produce enough insulin or properly use it (type 2).

Insulin converts sugar, starches or other food into energy.

Diabetes is the sixth deadliest diseasesixth deadliest disease in the U.S.

HYPERGLYCEMIA (high blood sugar)Increased urination, thirst, blurry vision , nausea

Bathroom breaks, water, insulin

Less common Health Less common Health ImpairmentsImpairments

1. Epilepsy2. Heart Conditions3. Hemophilia4. Cancer5. HIV“These health conditions impair a student’sability to perform successfully in theireducation UNLESS MODIFICATIONS AREMADE.”

Epilepsy?Epilepsy?Seizures with sudden alterations in behavior or motor function caused by an electricaldischarge from the brain. Most singleseizures do not recur or require treatment.Seizures may be provoked by acute eventsincluding infection, head injury, chemicalimbalance, stroke or brain tumor.

Absence Seizure Absence Seizure (Petit Mal Seizure)(Petit Mal Seizure)

A form of generalized seizure that causes a brief clouding or loss of consciousness.

Occur in young children and are commonly mistaken for daydreaming. Child stares blankly, and their eyes blink or roll upward They recover quickly Can occur many times a day and can be brought on by hyperventilation The child doesn’t know that he just had a seizure.

Generalized tonic-clonic Generalized tonic-clonic seizuresseizures (Grand Mal) (Grand Mal)

Before a seizure begins, aura.

During the tonic phase: The child goes unconscious Eyes rolled back, body goes stiff The child may breathe irregularly Drool and lose bladder control usually lasts 10 to 30 secondsDuring the clonic phase: jerking of the muscles usually sleepy or disoriented and may have a headache

Heart ConditionsHeart ConditionsCongenital present at birthAcquired - developed over timeDevelop during childhood and are

temporaryMany heart conditions are chronicOthers are acute — they happen

suddenly, with severity, and end quickly.

HemophiliaHemophiliaHemophilia is a condition that involvesproblems with coagulation or clotting ofblood, leading to easy bruising andbleeding. Children with clotting disordersbruise easily after minor trauma and inareas that you don't commonly see bruisesor they may bleed for hours or days after aminor cut or surgical procedure.

CancerCancerAll kinds of cancer cells grow out of control, develop abnormal sizes and shapes, ignore their typical boundaries inside the body, destroy their neighbor cells, and can ultimately spread (or metastasize) to other organs and tissues.As cancer cells grow, they demand more and more of the body's nutrition. Cancer takes a child's strength, destroys organs and bones, and weakens the body's defenses againstother illnesses.

Human Immunodeficiency Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)Virus (HIV)

A serious virus that damages the immunesystem and attacks the brain, resulting indevelopmental delay and increasedsusceptibility to infection. HIV is transmittedwhen the virus enters the bloodstream, andcan be passed to a fetus by her mother. HIVcauses AIDS (Acquired Immune DeficiencySyndrome)

Lead PoisoningLead PoisoningIllness caused by ingesting or inhalinglead that can result in anemia anddamage to many organs, including thebrain, kidneys, liver, andgastrointestinal system.

Rheumatic FeverRheumatic FeverA disease in which there is tissueinflammation, especially of the largerjoints of the body. Fever and painStiffness of the jointsSmall, solid nodules under the skin Involuntary movements that affect the

gait, arm movements and speech.

LeukemiaLeukemiaRefers to cancers of the white blood cells. When a child has leukemia, largenumbers of abnormal white blood cells areproduced in the bone marrow. Theseabnormal white cells crowd the bonemarrow and flood the bloodstream, but theycannot perform their proper role ofprotecting the body against disease becausethey are defective.

AccommodationsAccommodations Flexible time limits Freedom to use bathroom or drinking fountain Frequent breaks Reduced assignments Alternative assignments when absent frequently Alternative grading scale Safe Place Include School Nurse and Social Worker in IEP

process Decrease distractions

StrategiesStrategies Build a caring, nurturing classroom environment Teach students about the health impairment Use of visuals Hands-on learning Cooperative learning Buddy system Give short, concise directions Teach lessons that allow for movement Allow for frequent, positive feedback Help build on his strengths and be successful Give ADHD student frequent breaks or allow to go

on errands

ReferencesReferences1. Nichcy

http://www.nichcy.org/Disabilities/Specific/Pages/Epilepsy.aspx

2. CEC http://www.cec.sped.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=About_CEC