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Pharmacy Links

COPING WITH THE UNCERTAINTIES OF SEIZURES AND EPILEPSY: COPING WITH LABELS – HOW SHOULD I TREAT MY CHILD WHO HAS BOTH RETARDATION AND EPILEPSY?

10/02/11

The answer depends on the child’s level of retardation. The natural tendency of most parents and grandparents is to overprotect a child with epilepsy. However, overprotection, particularly of a mentally retarded child, leads to infantilization, ultimately a greater handicap to a child than the seizures themselves. It is crucial for such a child to be as independent as possible. The retarded child needs every opportunity to achieve his optimal potential.

When your child has multiple problems, such as mental retardation and epilepsy, the family has a lot of compensating to do. With epilepsy alone, you can usually maintain your expectations for his future— assuming, of course, they were realistic to begin with—since most epilepsy can be controlled or outgrown. Even when epilepsy occurs in children with retardation, your expectations for your child should rarely be changed.

Helping your child to cope with mental retardation depends greatly on the degree of retardation. The severely retarded child may not be clearly aware of his disability. Today many moderately retarded individuals function in noncompetitive employment, are able to live in the community with assistance, and engage in a variety of social activities. The process of developing these capabilities begins in childhood with mainstreaming in schools and socialization through churches, scouting, and athletics. Developing these capabilities begins within the family as well—seeing a child’s potential, encouraging him to learn to participate, helping him to achieve his full worth.

*197\208\8*

COPING WITH THE UNCERTAINTIES OF SEIZURES AND EPILEPSY: COPING WITH LABELS – HOW SHOULD I TREAT MY CHILD WHO HAS BOTH RETARDATION AND EPILEPSY?The answer depends on the child’s level of retardation. The natural tendency of most parents and grandparents is to overprotect a child with epilepsy. However, overprotection, particularly of a mentally retarded child, leads to infantilization, ultimately a greater handicap to a child than the seizures themselves. It is crucial for such a child to be as independent as possible. The retarded child needs every opportunity to achieve his optimal potential.When your child has multiple problems, such as mental retardation and epilepsy, the family has a lot of compensating to do. With epilepsy alone, you can usually maintain your expectations for his future— assuming, of course, they were realistic to begin with—since most epilepsy can be controlled or outgrown. Even when epilepsy occurs in children with retardation, your expectations for your child should rarely be changed.Helping your child to cope with mental retardation depends greatly on the degree of retardation. The severely retarded child may not be clearly aware of his disability. Today many moderately retarded individuals function in noncompetitive employment, are able to live in the community with assistance, and engage in a variety of social activities. The process of developing these capabilities begins in childhood with mainstreaming in schools and socialization through churches, scouting, and athletics. Developing these capabilities begins within the family as well—seeing a child’s potential, encouraging him to learn to participate, helping him to achieve his full worth.*197\208\8*