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Other Health Other Health Impairment (OHI)Impairment (OHI)

Lolita Siguenza Lolita Siguenza Eleanor QuichochoEleanor Quichocho

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

November 20, 2008November 20, 2008

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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)]

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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

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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.

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CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Miss school frequently physical restrictions Inattentiveness Other medication side effects

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Common Common Other Health Other Health ImpairmentImpairment

1. Asthma2. ADD3. ADHD4. Diabetes

These health conditions impair a student’sability to perform successfully in theireducation UNLESS MODIFICATIONS ARE MADE.

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ASTHMAASTHMAAsthma is a chronic inflammatory disease ofthe airway“ that causes the following symptoms;

Shortness of breath, coughing Tightness in the chest and wheezing

Teachers can help by1. Managing asthma episodes2. Follow a student’s action plan

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AsthmaAsthma continuation continuationAsthma has no set pattern. Itssymptoms:Mild, moderate or severe Vary from person to person Flare up from time to time Vary from one episode to the next

Cause of asthma is not known, and currently there is no cure

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Attention Deficit Attention Deficit Hyperactive DisorderHyperactive Disorder

ADHD: Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is

• person to sit still, • control behavior• pay attention. 

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DiabetesDiabetes

Diabetes happens when someone's body does not have enough insulin.

Insulin converts sugar, starches or other food into energy.

Diabetes (sixth deadliest disease)sixth deadliest disease) in the U.S.

Teachers can help by:1. Monitor symptoms hyper- or hypoglycemia2. Knowing first aid processes

Did you know... if a child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 5, by the time they are 18, they will have endured at least18,980 finger pokes?

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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 ARE MADE.”

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Epilepsy?Epilepsy?

Seizures is caused • electrical discharge from the brain.• Single seizures do not recur or require treatment.

• provoked by acute events (brain tumor, etc)

Teachers can help by:1. Identifying/eliminating environmental factors that trigger

seizures2. Provide classmates with factual information on seizures

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

causes a brief clouding or loss of consciousness.

occur in young children - daydreaming. stares blankly, eyes blink, roll backwards recover quickly occur many times a day and brought on by hyperventilation The child doesn’t know that he just had a seizure.

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

Before a seizure begins, aura.

unconscious Eyes rolled back, body goes stiff breathe irregularly Drool and lose bladder control usually lasts 10 to 30 seconds

During the clonic phase: jerking of the muscles usually sleepy or disoriented and headache

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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.

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HemophiliaHemophilia

Hemophilia is caused• Coagulation or clotting of the blood• Bruising and bleeding• Bleed for hours/days after minor cut or surgery

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CancerCancerCancer Cells: grow out of control, abnormal sizes and shapes, ignore typical boundaries inside the body, destroy neighbor cells ultimately spread (or metastasize) to other organs and tissues.• body's nutrition. Cancer • takes a child's strength

Teachers can help by:1. Including students in activities with their peers as much as possible2. Creating a secure environment where the child can succeed, but does not

feel as if he/she is being treated differently

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LeukemiaLeukemia

• large numbers of abnormal white blood cells are produced in the bone marrow. • abnormal white cells crowd the bone marrow

and flood the bloodstream • can’t perform their proper role of protecting the body against disease because they are defective.

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

• damages immune system and attacks the brain • resulting in developmental delay and increased susceptibility to infection• Transmitted once entered into the bloodstream• Passed through fetus by mother• HIV causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)

Teachers face three issues:1. Confidentiality2. Preventing transmission (universal precautions)3. Understanding how the condition affects learning and behavior

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Lead PoisoningLead Poisoning• Illness caused by ingesting or

inhaling lead • result in anemia and damage to

many organs, including the brain, kidneys, liver, and gastrointestinal system.

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Rheumatic FeverRheumatic FeverA disease in which there is tissue inflammation

Fever and pain Stiffness of the joints Small, solid nodules under the skin Involuntary movements that affect the gait, arm

movements and speech.

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Sickle Cell AnemiaSickle Cell Anemia

• one type of anemia• an inherited, lifelong disease• affects millions of people worldwide • there are treatments for the symptoms

and complications of the disease

Teachers can help students by• Avoiding stressors (heat, cold, poor diet, inadequate liquids)• Observing students for symptoms of pain and consider the

emotional aspects of dealing with pain

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Assistive TechnologyAssistive TechnologyLow and High TechLow and High Tech

Videotaping class sessions for students Textbooks on tape Laptop or portable word processor to take notes Audio recorders to record lessons Screen reading software Voice recognition software Word prediction software Computers with speech input Adaptive keyboard, mouse, etc. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXchQnJ6PoE

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AccommodationsAccommodationsflexible time limits freedom to use

bathroom or drinking fountain

frequent breaks reduced

assignments

alternative grading scale

safe Place alternative

assignments when absent frequently

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StrategiesStrategiesCaring, 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

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SummarySummaryStudents miss so many days of school due to illnesses beyond their control. Moststudents actually want to go to school and being with their friends helps them to feel NORMAL. As educators it is very important to accommodate children fromfalling too far behind by sending work homeor providing a tutor in the child’s home or after school.

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Provoking QuestionsProvoking Questions1. Can children with Other Health

Impairment get help to attend school or to learn at home?

2. How does growing up in an exceptional family affect siblings of kids with Other Health Impairment?

3. What can we do as a community to assist children with Other Health Impairment?

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ReferencesReferences1. Nichcy

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

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

3. Health Newsflashhttp://www.healthnewsflash.com/conditions/seizures_and_epilepsy.htm

4. Fifth Edition Including Students with Special Needs, A Practical Guide for Classroom Teachers by Marilyn Friend and William D. Bursuck

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The EndThe End

Eleanor Quichocho Lolita Siguenza

Thank You!