Different children will have very different experiences of how epilepsy affects them, and the impact it has on their school life. But overall, children with epilepsy are at greater risk of learning and behaviour difficulties than children without epilepsy.

Does epilepsy cause intellectual disability?

Most people with epilepsy do not have intellectual disabilities, but a substantial minority of people with intellectual disabilities have epilepsy. Epilepsy is known to be a potentially disabling, chronic and socially isolating condition.

Does epilepsy worsen IQ affect learning?

[6,7] Dodson[8] reported that children with epilepsy have an intelligence quotient (IQ) score that is 10 points lower than their healthy, age-matched peers. Epilepsy can affect a person’s education, career, general health, mental health, and marriage, among other things.

How does intellectual disability affect education?

Intellectual disabilities in children cause learning difficulties, social problems, motor skill impairment, and adversely affect ability to perform successfully in daily life. This negatively impacts a child’s ability to learn in a typical educational setting.

Is epilepsy considered a learning disability?

Generally, having a learning disability does not cause epilepsy, and having epilepsy does not cause a learning disability. Some people may have epilepsy and learning disabilities, and both may be caused by the same underlying problem in the way their brain works.

How does epilepsy affect intellectually?

Epilepsy and Cognitive Disorders The most frequent cognitive complaints in adults are feeling slowed down mentally, memory impairment, and attention problems. Memory problems are an important feature of seizures arising from one part of the brain called the temporal lobe. Short-term memory problems are seen most often.

Are epileptics more intelligent?

Myth 3: People with epilepsy aren’t as smart as other people. Fact: Epilepsy has little to no effect on a person’s ability to think, except during some seizures, during a short period following some seizures and sometimes as a side effect of certain anti-epileptic medications.

What are the learning needs of students with intellectual disabilities?

Some students may be easily distracted and need support with organisation, or they may find instructions with several steps hard to follow. Students with intellectual disability often prefer concrete learning tasks, and multi-modal or hands-on learning tasks. Communication and social skills.

How can you help students with intellectual disabilities in the classroom?

Instructional Strategies for Students with Cognitive Disabilities

  1. Teach self-monitoring techniques.
  2. Have students work each step in an assignment in different colors.
  3. Encourage students to subvocalize while learning.
  4. Assign a peer tutor and allow the peer or adult to read the text aloud to the student.

Is epilepsy considered special needs?

The nation’s special education law specifically mentions epilepsy in its definition of “Other Health Impairment,” a category under which children may be found eligible for special education and related services.

Is epilepsy a disability in schools?

Federal law, as well as many state laws, grants children with epilepsy the right to receive those supplemental services and if necessary, special education. These federal laws are known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504).

Is epilepsy considered an intellectual disability?

Most people with epilepsy do not have intellectual disabilities, but a substantial minority of people with intellectual disabilities have epilepsy. Epilepsy is known to be a potentially disabling, chronic and socially isolating condition.

How can we reduce the social impact of epilepsy?

Thus appropriate diagnosis of epilepsy (history, investigations, classification and aetiology) and management are essential to help in reducing the considerable social impact, potentially stigmatisation, secondary handicap and low self-esteem compounded by social exclusion experienced by people with intellectual disabilities.

Is there a risk factor checklist for intellectual disabilities?

Shankar et al (2013) 13 have developed an evidenced based risk factor checklist to engage patients in such a discussion. Intellectual disabilities, especially more severe intellectual disabilities, are mainly caused by brain pathology, that is maldevelopment of or damage to the brain.

What are the treatment options for active epilepsy?

Two-thirds of people with active epilepsy have their epilepsy controlled satisfactorily with anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). Other approaches may include surgery.