Since it is well known that epilepsy is the continuous electrical discharge of the neurons from the cerebral cortex, which renders the individual unconscious  for  shorter  or  longer  period  depending  upon  the  type   of  the  fit .  It is seen that every fit cause damage to the cortex, which affects the individual's intellectual, powers upto  the  extent  that  he  may  become  retarded depending upon the frequency of the fits.

    The main points of consideration for an occupational therapist are :

        1. To supervise the patient suffering from epilepsy constantly,
        2. To avoid use of sharp tools,
        3. To avoid occupations which need constant attention and use of machines,
        4. To give activities of short duration initially to capture the interest of the patient,
        5. To motivate and promote economic rehabilitation,
        6. To increase concentration and
        7. To keep them busy and occupied.

                    Keeping  above  points  into  consideration ,  we  can  see  in  our  practice of O.T. that occupational therapy has been of use and benefit to these epileptics.
                    While the patient is on the bed, the activities, which are light and require portable equipment, should be introduced.

                       The useful activities have been as :

       (1)   Spool - knitting,
       (2)   Paper work , braid weaving,
       (3)   Paper Mache , circular braid weaving,
       (4)   Knitting,
       (5)   Embroidery,
       (6)   Tracing,
       (7)   Scrap work,
       (8)   Tikki work,
       (9)   Clay modeling,
     (10)   Chalk making,
     (11)   Candle making, etc.

                        If  we  analyze  above-mentioned  activities ,  we  find  that  they  are  so  interesting  activities  that  they  can  absorb  the  patient  and   motivate  to  work on  these  activities. These  activities  do  not  need much of supervision unless and until the patient is retarded.

                    The epileptics do turn violent and to control this we can give them resistive crafts and activities, which do not require use of, sharp tools. The constant vigilance to avoid any mishap is very essential.

                    Use  the  activities ,  which  could  encourage  the  patient  vocationally. The  workshops  will  be  of  much  benefit  to  these  epileptics. They  can  work  on any job if they are instructed to observe few precautions in the strict supervision of the occupational therapist. The experiments have shown that these epileptics who are denied  employment  in  normal  industry  are  employed without any fear in the sheltered workshops for the handicapped. These  workshops  can be even exclusively for  epileptics  where  one  epileptic  happily  helps  the  other  epileptic at work and even if is suffering from a fit.

                   This is seen that they look after each other very well without many inconveniences.  To  encourage  employment  not  only  keeps  the  epileptic  busy  but  also  permits  him  to be at least  partially  self - supporting  enhancing  the  self esteems  of  the  patient  and  improves  his  outlook  towards  life. There is no better tonic for the personality development of these epileptics than employment.

                     The  other  point  of  discussion  is  the  maintenance of the cheerful mood  and  personality  of  the  patient.  This  is  equally important to reduce the number  of  convulsions. We  know  that  many of the institutionalized patients and those  who  attend  O.T. daily   are  egocentric,  bad-tempered  and  hyper  sensitive. They are dull and apathetic. This is said  that  the  aforesaid  personality traits are mostly the predisposing factors to develop a fit.

 

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