The children at Woodside all suffer from a varying degree of disabilities.
Below is a list of pathologies that will bring more insight in understanding our children better.
Cerebral Palsy
It is easier to think of cerebral palsy as a condition where a part of the brain has not developed properly. This might be because of a variety of events occurring before, during or after the delivery. So it may be the result of problems with blood supply to the baby’s brain during the delivery, but it may also happen while the baby is still growing in the womb.
Meningitis
Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective membrane lining the brain and spinal cord caused most often by a viral or bacterial infection that crosses the body’s blood-brain barrier. Most patients make a full recovery from meningitis. A small number of infected people end up with hearing or vision loss or brain damage. Although most people make a swift and complete recovery, meningitis can result in a variety of after effects. Some are permanent and physically disabling.
Physical Abuse
Some of the most common characteristics of the abused child include prematurity, low birth weight, difficult temperament, behaviour disorders and mental handicaps.
Why are handicapped children at risk of child abuse?
They are less able to defend themselves physically.
They are unable to differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate physical contact whether it is violent or sexual.
They are more dependent on other for care and therefore more trusting since dependency and trust often translate into compliance and passivity.
Accidents
Mental disabilities are caused by severe trauma to the head in car accidents or perhaps even person to person violence. Near drowning also causes brain damage if submersion was longer than 15 seconds in from as little as 4cm's of water.
The Golden Rule: "Never leave a child alone near water."
Foetal Alcohol Syndrome
Alcohol & pregnancy DO NOT MIX!
Drinking alcohol when pregnant carries a significant risk to the unborn baby because alcohol easily crosses the placental barrier thus passing from mother to child. Women who are pregnant or are attempting to get pregnant or breast feeding should refrain from, taking alcohol. FAS is thought to be the third highest cause of congenital mental retardation. The syndrome is associated with:
Cranio-facial malformation
Growth retardation
Organ malfunction
"You have a choice, your baby doesn't"
Downe's Syndrome
Downe’s Syndrome is the most common cause of mental retardation and malformation in a newborn. A genetic disorder, it occurs because of the presence of an extra chromosome. Babies with Down syndrome tend to be overly quiet, less responsive, with weak floppy muscles. Further more a number of physical signs may be present: fat appearing face, small head, and upward slanting eyes.
Hydrocephalus
Hydrocephalus, sometimes known as Water on the Brain, is a condition in which abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain causes increased intracranial pressure inside the skull. Because hydrocephalus injures the brain, thought and behaviour may be adversely affected. Learning disabilities are common amongst those with hydrocephalus, who tend to score better on verbal IQ than on performance IQ which is thought to reflect the distribution of nerve damage to the brain. However the severity of hydrocephalus differs between individuals and some are of average or above average intelligence. Someone with hydrocephalus may have motivational and visual problems, problems with coordination and may be clumsy.
For more information please contact our Occupational Therapy Department.
better on verbal IQ than on performance IQ which is thought to reflect the distribution of nerve damage to the brain. However the severity of hydrocephalus differs between individuals and some are of average or above average intelligence. Someone with hydrocephalus may have motivational and visual problems, problems with coordination and may be clumsy.
