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Orthopedic Impairment |
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SUBGROUPS
Cerebral Palsy: A non-progressive disorder that is caused by
damage to the brain. It affects gross and fine motor condition. Cerebral
palsy may affect 1.5 to 2 of every 100 persons. The characteristics of
cerebral palsy depend on the type. For example, spasticity is
characterized by tense, jerky, and poorly coordinated movements. Many
people with cerebral palsy have associated disabilities.
Muscular Dystrophy: Occurs when voluntary muscles progressively
weaken and degenerate until they no longer function. The prevalence rate
is 1 in 3500 people. The age of onset is a wide range, from anytime
between 1 and 80. Muscular dystrophy is thought to be hereditary or
caused by gene mutation.
Spinal Muscular Atrophy: A disease that affects the spinal cord
and may result in progressive degeneration of the motor nerve cells. The
severity runs from mild weakness to characteristics similar to muscular
dystrophy. SMA is characterized in general by fatigue and clumsiness.
The cause is hereditary and the age of onset is either in infancy or a
later time or between the ages of 2 and 17.
Polio: A viral infection that causes paralysis. People with polio
may be bedridden, confined to a wheelchair or dependent on braces or
crutches.
Spinal Cord Injuries: Caused by accidents which result in
quadriplegia or paraplegia. Some people may recover completely or may
remain in a wheelchair. Intelligence is not affected by this kind of
injury. Spina Bifida: A congenital defect that results when the bones of
a part of the spine fail to grow together. It is the second most common
birth defect and it affects .1 to 4.13 of every 1000 live births. It is
characterized by the use of crutches or wheelchairs and in some cases
physical, occupational, and speech therapy need to be addressed. Another
problem is bowel and bladder control.
Osteogenesi Imperfecta: Also known as “brittle bone disease.”
The bones may break easily and many may use a wheelchair. A person
helping a person in this condition must be very careful.
Multiple sclerosis: A progressive disorder where the nerve
impulses to the muscles are short circuited by scar tissue. Initially
mild problems may occur but as the attacks continue, a person may
develop a multitude of problems. These include severe visual impairment,
speech disorder, loss of bowel and bladder control, and paralyzation.
Symptoms may regress as remission occurs.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: Causes general fatigue and stiffness and
aching of joints Students who are affected by this may have trouble
being in one position for a length of time, as well as for some of the
other impairments mentioned above.
Degenerative Diseases: Progressive diseases such as muscular
dystrophy and multiple sclerosis may limit gross motor functions and/or
fine motor activity.
Post-Polio Syndrome: A variety of problems are presumed to be the
late effects of polio. The symptoms may include fatigue, weakness,
shortness of breath, and pain.
Motor Neuron Diseases:A group of disorders such as Amyotrophic
Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Progressive Bulbar Palsy (PBP), Progressive
Spinal Muscular Atrophy, and Charcot-Morie-Tooth disease produce
symptoms such as pain, numbness, weakness, loss of upper and lower motor
functions, and problems in breathing. |
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Characteristics |
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The referral characteristics for the student with an
orthopedic impairment (OI) fall more into
the area of physical characteristics. These may include paralysis,
unsteady gait, poor muscle control, loss of limb, etc. An orthopedic
impairment may also impede speech production and the expressive language
of the child. It is important to note that appropriate
seating/positioning of the child is of primary consideration for
effective screening, evaluation and instruction.
The category of
Orthopedic Impairment provides a means for identifying and serving those
students whose motor functioning is significantly different from that of
their peers to the extent that it adversely affects their school
performance. This category has been in the federal regulations since
initial development of PL 94-142 and was derived from the field of
orthopedics. Typically, students considered for this category have a
history of chronic disability diagnosed by the medical community through
routine care as infants and young children. In addition, students who
are permanently injured, involving muscles, joints or bones, usually are
diagnosed and receive rehabilitation services.
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IDEA Definition |
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This category includes a child whose severe orthopedic impairment
adversely affects their educational performance. The term includes
impairments caused by a congenital anomaly (e.g. clubfoot, absence
of some member, etc.), impairments caused by disease (e.g.
poliomyelitis, bone tuberculosis, etc.), and impairments from
other causes (e.g., cerebral palsy, amputations, and fractures or
burns that cause contractures). |
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Info |
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The National
Dissemination
Center for Children
with Disabilities (NICHCY.org)
offers fact sheets on the
following subcategories of orthopedic
impairments:
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Links |
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Causes |
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- Students may be born with or acquire problem with their
bones, their joints and/or their muscles.
- Orthopedic problems may result from deformities, diseases,
injuries, or surgeries.
- Problems a child might be born with include cerebral
palsy, Osteogenisis Imperfecta, joint deformities or muscular
dystrophy.
- Injuries or surgeries may result in the loss of a bone
and/or muscle tissue and may include the amputation of a limb.
- Burns and broken bones can also result in damage to both
bones and muscles.
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PARENTS
