General Information
Orthopedic Impairments
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, defines an orthopedic impairment as "a severe orthopedic impairment that adversely affects a child's educational performance. The term includes impairments caused by a congenial anomaly, impairments caused by disease, and impairments from other causes." idea.ed.gov
Different Categories/types within the disability
The term 'Orthopedic Impairment' encompasses a very wide variety of disabilities. There are three main areas of disorders:
The two most common neuromotor impairments are cerebral palsy and and spina bifida. Cerebral palsy refers to several nonprogressive disorders of voluntary movement or posture that are caused by malfunction of or damage to the developing brain that occurs before or during birth or within the first few years of life. Individuals with cerebral palsy have abnormal, involuntary, and/or uncoordinated motor movements. The four most common types of cerebral palsy include:
Spina bifida is a developmental defect of the spinal column. Spina bifida is characterized by an abnormal opening in the spinal column and frequently involves some paralysis of various portions of the body. It may or may not affect intellectual functioning. Spina bifida is usually classified as either spina bifida occulta or spina bifida cystica. Spina bifida occulta is a mild condition while spina bifida cystica is more serious.
Muscular dystrophy is a group of inherited diseases characterized by weakness and wasting away of muscle tissue, with or without the breakdown of nerve tissue.
Orthopedic impairments also include amputations, fractures or burns that cause contractures, and clubbed feet. The term included bone diseases such as Fibrous dysplasia, osteoporosis, Paget's Disease, Osteogenesis imperfecta, and Primary hyperparathyroidism. It includes Brachial Plexus Injury, Hydrocephalus, Poliomyelitis, and spinal cord injuries.
This webside provides excellent information on all of these Orthopedic Impairments and more:
http://www.naset.org/orthopedicimpairment2.0.html
Sources: http://www.projectidealonline.org/orthopedicImpairments.php ;
http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view/p/%2Croot%2Cregs%2C300%2CA%2C300%252E8%2Cc%2C8%2C
- Neuromotor impairments are an abnormality of, or damage to the brain, spinal cord, or nervous system that sends impulses to the muscles of the body. These are acquired at or before birth, and frequently result in complex motor problems that can affect body systems. These motor impaiments can include limited limb movement, loss of uninary control, and loss of proper alignment of the spine.
- Degenerative diseases affect motor development.
- Musculoskelatal disorders result in various levels of physical limitations.
The two most common neuromotor impairments are cerebral palsy and and spina bifida. Cerebral palsy refers to several nonprogressive disorders of voluntary movement or posture that are caused by malfunction of or damage to the developing brain that occurs before or during birth or within the first few years of life. Individuals with cerebral palsy have abnormal, involuntary, and/or uncoordinated motor movements. The four most common types of cerebral palsy include:
- Spastic: very tight muscles occurring in one or more muscle groups that result in stiff, uncoordinated movements
- Athetoid: movements are contorted, abnormal, and purposeless
- Ataxic: poor balance and equilibrium in addition to uncoordinated voluntary movement
- Mixed: any combination of the types
Spina bifida is a developmental defect of the spinal column. Spina bifida is characterized by an abnormal opening in the spinal column and frequently involves some paralysis of various portions of the body. It may or may not affect intellectual functioning. Spina bifida is usually classified as either spina bifida occulta or spina bifida cystica. Spina bifida occulta is a mild condition while spina bifida cystica is more serious.
Muscular dystrophy is a group of inherited diseases characterized by weakness and wasting away of muscle tissue, with or without the breakdown of nerve tissue.
Orthopedic impairments also include amputations, fractures or burns that cause contractures, and clubbed feet. The term included bone diseases such as Fibrous dysplasia, osteoporosis, Paget's Disease, Osteogenesis imperfecta, and Primary hyperparathyroidism. It includes Brachial Plexus Injury, Hydrocephalus, Poliomyelitis, and spinal cord injuries.
This webside provides excellent information on all of these Orthopedic Impairments and more:
http://www.naset.org/orthopedicimpairment2.0.html
Sources: http://www.projectidealonline.org/orthopedicImpairments.php ;
http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view/p/%2Croot%2Cregs%2C300%2CA%2C300%252E8%2Cc%2C8%2C
Prevalence
According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, in 2011 roughly 65,000 students received special education services for orthopedic impairments (http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=64).
Source: http://nces.ed.gov
Source: http://nces.ed.gov
Causes/Diagnosis
Students with an orthopedic impairment usually have a history of chronic disability and are diagnosed through routine doctor visits as infants and young children. In addition, students who are permanently injured, involving muscles, joints or bones, usually are diagnosed and receive rehabilitation services. Other impairments are caused by diseases or injuries.
Click here for more information on causes of Cerebral Palsy
Click here for more information on the causes/diagnosis of Spina Bifida
Click here for more information on the causes/diagnosis of muscular dystrophy
Click here for more information on the causes/diagnosis of Hydrocephalus
Click here for more information on juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
Sources: https://sites.google.com/site/specialeducationnation/orthopedic-impairment ; http://www.naset.org/orthopedicimpairment2.0.html
Click here for more information on causes of Cerebral Palsy
Click here for more information on the causes/diagnosis of Spina Bifida
Click here for more information on the causes/diagnosis of muscular dystrophy
Click here for more information on the causes/diagnosis of Hydrocephalus
Click here for more information on juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
Sources: https://sites.google.com/site/specialeducationnation/orthopedic-impairment ; http://www.naset.org/orthopedicimpairment2.0.html
