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Pharmacy Links

LIVING WITH EPILEPSY/SCHOOL: LEARNING AND BEHAVIOR –JOSHUA’S PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS

19/02/11

“This was the third time this fail that the teacher has called us in for a meeting. She says that Joshua is disruptive to the class. He bites, fights, and won’t sit still. His reading is terrible, and I’m afraid that he is going to be expelled. What should we do? Can they expel someone from the second grade? I think that the real problem is that the teacher is afraid that he’ll have a seizure in class and really just wants him out.”

We would begin to analyze this problem by asking the parents to tell us more about Joshua. What sort of a child is he? Is he having these types of behavior problems at home? Are they new? When did they first start? Was he having similar problems in the first grade last year? Was there anything particular which might have caused them? What was the relationship of the onset of these problems to the onset of his seizures and to the initiation of his anticonvulsant medication?

Behavioral problems such as biting, fighting, and other disruptive behavior can come from many different sources. Any of the anticonvulsant medications can cause behavioral changes such as this. If the change began shortly after the start of a new anticonvulsant, then perhaps a different medication should be tried. However, behavioral changes rarely occur weeks or months after the child has been on the same medicine, unless there has been a change in the dose. New behavior problems can be caused by psychological disturbances initiated by problems at home or in school; they could be caused by the teacher’s behavior towards the child and the child’s reaction to his teacher’s behavior. Does Joshua know about his seizures? Is he afraid or embarrassed by them? Perhaps a careful explanation of the seizures would alleviate some of his fears, and this might allow him to be less aggressive in school.

Discussing the problems and concerns with the teacher (or the principal) and with your physician can help you to sort through these different causes. Whatever the cause, the recent change in Josh’s behavior certainly is reason for concern and investigation. It is a common symptom of problems that require solutions. It could be Joshua’s psychological way of asking for help.

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LIVING WITH EPILEPSY/SCHOOL: LEARNING AND BEHAVIOR –JOSHUA’S PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS”This was the third time this fail that the teacher has called us in for a meeting. She says that Joshua is disruptive to the class. He bites, fights, and won’t sit still. His reading is terrible, and I’m afraid that he is going to be expelled. What should we do? Can they expel someone from the second grade? I think that the real problem is that the teacher is afraid that he’ll have a seizure in class and really just wants him out.”We would begin to analyze this problem by asking the parents to tell us more about Joshua. What sort of a child is he? Is he having these types of behavior problems at home? Are they new? When did they first start? Was he having similar problems in the first grade last year? Was there anything particular which might have caused them? What was the relationship of the onset of these problems to the onset of his seizures and to the initiation of his anticonvulsant medication?Behavioral problems such as biting, fighting, and other disruptive behavior can come from many different sources. Any of the anticonvulsant medications can cause behavioral changes such as this. If the change began shortly after the start of a new anticonvulsant, then perhaps a different medication should be tried. However, behavioral changes rarely occur weeks or months after the child has been on the same medicine, unless there has been a change in the dose. New behavior problems can be caused by psychological disturbances initiated by problems at home or in school; they could be caused by the teacher’s behavior towards the child and the child’s reaction to his teacher’s behavior. Does Joshua know about his seizures? Is he afraid or embarrassed by them? Perhaps a careful explanation of the seizures would alleviate some of his fears, and this might allow him to be less aggressive in school.Discussing the problems and concerns with the teacher (or the principal) and with your physician can help you to sort through these different causes. Whatever the cause, the recent change in Josh’s behavior certainly is reason for concern and investigation. It is a common symptom of problems that require solutions. It could be Joshua’s psychological way of asking for help.*248\208\8*