Orthopedically handicapped Flashcards
What is orthopedic handicap?
Many muscle and bone disabilities in childhood create problems of adjustment in school and may also affect their education achievement.
What is Cerebral Palsy? (CP)
Cerebral Palsy (CP) Palsy refers to the lack of muscle control and cerebral denotes brain. Cerebral palsy is a disorder that affects movement and posture as a result of damage to those areas of brain that control movement.
When does brain injury occur for CP?
The brain injury, usually caused by oxygen deprivation, can occur prior to birth, during birth or soon after birth.
Is CP a disease?
Cerebral palsy is not a disease. It does not become progressively worse, nor is it infectious in any form. It is not hereditary.
What are the three types of CP (symptoms)?
There are three types of cerebral palsy
depending on which areas of are affected:
Spastic: hypertonic form, characterised by stiff, tense, and poorly coordinated movements
Athetoid: low tone form, characterised by purposeless uncontrolled involuntary movements and contorted purposeful movements.
Ataxic: characterised by balance problems, poor depth perception, and poor fine and gross motor skills.
Mixed types of symptoms can also occur.
What problems occur due to CP?
The problems associated with poor movement and balance skills may complicate educational activities. They may also show sensory and communication problems.
What are other physical ailments?
Other physical ailments are brain injury, poliomyelitis, muscular dystrophy, and multiple
sclerosis.
What are the remedial measures for these physical impairments?
Together with regular medication and health check ups these children may also need specialised instructional help and some technical equipment to assist them. But a teacher’s effective strategies will be more required as the students live a stressful life
due to the ailments.
What does the teacher need to take care of , for such children?
A teacher should take care of the following:
i) The teacher should be familiar to the condition of the student. The information can be obtained from the parents or the student. Without adequate knowledge of the student’s condition, strategies and programs will be difficult to be planned.
ii) Permit the use of computers, calculators, watches that have database, recorders and other equipment that will facilitate learning.
iii) Organise the furniture and other objects in the rooms so that the students with extra equipment (wheelchair, standing board, computers etc.) can move with ease.
iv) Pace the lessons so that the student with a physical disability can have a rest time between lessons.
v) Ensure that the student understands the directions well.
vi) Have the student do assignments that are necessary, if he miss the school. Do not give him extra drill and practice.
vii) Counselor or the mental health professionals can be approached for an advice.
Teacher should support the student learn and should avoid making complaints to family.
