- Children with spina bifida and hydrocephalus have co-ordination and perception problems because they are not as active as other children and their balance is not good. They may need help to learn how to use different eye movements such as skimming and scanning.
- They may need practise in learning to direct their eyes left, right, up, down, and from a wide focus to a narrow focus.
- Estimation games are good to develop pupils’ self-judgement. This can be done in P.E. when pupils have to throw a ball in the area and catch it; they have to estimate how quickly it will come down again.
- To help with auditory perception encourage pupils to whisper instructions after you, then ask them to explain it.
- Children with spina bifida will benefit from a systematic approach to some learning. They should be taught methodically to look for patterns, similarities and differences, e.g. in spelling or later in comparing the treatment of themes in novels and plays.
- Try to present the same information in different ways and where possible use concrete materials which the pupils can touch. This helps them relate words to objects.
- For homework give pupils tasks which are practically based where possible.
- Try to train pupils to organise themselves by writing checklists and procedures for doing things.
- Use task lists which are broken down into steps.
- Pupils with spina bifida often find it hard to judge their own performance; make it explicit what the criteria is and what you want them to do.
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Spina BifidaThis condition is caused by a defect in the neural tube which forms the spine, spinal cord and brain. A gap is left in the vertebrae. It can present in variations in severity from mild, where only a hair or dimple is seen on the skin to severe where a lump (sac) is seen on the back. This contains nerves and spinal fluid. Mobility and continence may be affected in mild forms and will cause paralysis and incontinence in its severe form. Hydrocephalus
This condition is caused by an obstruction in the flow of fluid around and over the ventricles in the brain. The problem when it happens in babies causes the head to swell up and enlarge. This leads to learning difficulties. Things to look out for: Children with spina bifida and hydrocephalus often have poorly developed co-ordination and perception. They have difficulties with the concepts of time and space and also have short term memory problems. They can also have speech, vision and motor difficulties due to pressure on the brain. Treatment for hydrocephalus: A shunt is usually inserted to relieve the pressure in the brain. The shunts quite often block up. This can cause the person to become irritable, to have nausea, suffer from inertia and headaches. People who can help: SENCO/Resource Teacher; Physiotherapist; Occupational Therapist Further Informationhttp://www.asbah.org/
A disorder of the nerves connecting the brain and spinal cord to the muscles. The disease leads to a breakdown of muscle fibres causing weak and wasted muscles. The disease usually begins to show itself in childhood. The disease can range in severity from mild where it causes only mild disability to severe where the person will get progressively worse being confined to a wheelchair and with a limited lifespan. Although children with Muscular Dystrophy may start school with little or no signs of disability, they will need statemented as the progress of the disease can be rapid. Weakness will cause them to need physiotherapy and perhaps special equipment such as a computer. He/she will probably need help from a classroom assistant. Case Studies People who can help: SENCO/Resource Teacher; Physiotherapist Further Informationhttp://www.muscular-dystrophy.org Basic FactsCerebral palsy is a condition affecting muscle control and movement. It affects around 1 in 400 children in the UK, and is caused by an injury to the brain before, during or after birth, such as a lack of oxygen to the brain or an infection during pregnancy. It is not progressive, and a range of therapies can help people with cerebral palsy to lead more independent and happier lives, but there is no known cure. Children with cerebral palsy will usually receive treatment from a range of professionals in a multi-disciplinary team. The incidence of cerebral palsy is not related to social background or to ethnic grouping.
Types of Cerebral PalsyThere are three main types of cerebral palsy:
Many people with cerebral palsy have a mixture of these types and no two people with the condition are affected in exactly the same way. Cerebral palsy is also often associated with other co-morbid conditions. For instance, in 45% of cases, there is a learning disability with can range from mild to severe. There are also often associated problems with motor control and musculoskeletal problems. Recent research has also suggested that people with cerebral palsy experience secondary ageing earlier than other people who do not have cerebral palsy. This can mean more pain and discomfort, more muscle spasms, osteoarthritis, poor motor control and joint problems and increased back pain. Further Informationwww.scope.org.uk – a great website with lots of very useful information on Cerebral Palsy Related Articles on SCoTENSCase Studies
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