Epilepsy

by Parkinson, Gill; Johnson, Mike

• ISBN13: 9780826487483
• ISBN10: 0826487483
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-06-19
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic

Summary

Epilepsy is neither an illness or a disease, but rather a tendency of the brain to be triggered to cause a spasm, a seizure or a fit, when neurones malfunction temporarily. Seizures can vary from major attacks which involve the whole brain to very minor,

Author Biography

Gill Parkinson is a Senior Lecturer in complex learning disability and neuropsychology in the Educational Support and Inclusion Group that forms part of the School of Education at the University of Manchester Mike Johnson is Lecturer in the Institute of Education at Manchester Metropolitan University

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	vii
Preface	ix
1 Fits, Faints and Funny Feelings	1	(26)
Introduction	1	(1)
What is epilepsy?	2	(4)
What isn't epilepsy?	6	(2)
Seizures	8	(5)
Treatment for epilepsy	13	(5)
Other treatments for epilepsy	18	(5)
Epilepsy in adolescence	23	(3)
References	26	(1)
2 Does This Child Have a Problem?	27	(18)
First contact: the general practitioner	29	(4)
Experiences of having tests	33	(1)
Seeing the consultant	34	(5)
What parents need	39	(6)
3 What Next?	45	(38)
Keeping the child involved	45	(1)
Access to the curriculum — a whole-school approach	46	(3)
Academic subjects	49	(1)
Key Stage tests and formal examination arrangements	50	(1)
Examinations and assessed work	51	(2)
Practical subjects and laboratory-based work	53	(1)
PE/outdoor pursuits and swimming	54	(1)
How do parents ensure that their child is treated appropriately by the school?	55	(3)
How are the risks to be assessed?	58	(25)
4 Management of Epilepsy in Schools	83	(20)
First aid for seizures	84	(3)
Triggers of seizures	87	(2)
Medicines	89	(2)
Emergency medicines	91	(3)
Implementing an epilepsy policy	94	(6)
The school epilepsy policy in practice	100	(3)
5 It's a Child's Life	103	(8)
References	110	(1)
Further Information	111
Legal requirements and responsibilities	111	(2)
Further reading	113	(1)
Acknowledgements	114	(1)
Useful addresses	114	(2)
Useful forms	116