It is also true  that  social  and  economical  maladjustment  of  the patient  also  pre - dispose  to  fits.  Occupational  therapist  should try to put the patient in a gainful employment.

                           The  social  reaction  is  that  the  site  of  the  epileptic  at  home  or in  the  group  of  persons  is  unpleasant.  So  this  should  be  treated  by  educating the  patient  and  family  about  the  illness,  so  that  they  do  not  show  awful  attitude  towards it. The  patients  should  be  persuaded  to  accept  illness. The illness  should  not  be  concealed  and  kept  as  a  secret to avoid intensing difficulties.

                     The  parents  should  not  show  rejection  towards  the  epileptic ,  they should  treat  him  like  any  other  normal  member at  home. This  child  or adult should  be made to socialize in a group of persons of his own age to develop confidence, to get social acceptance, the recognition as an individual and avoid stubbornness, egocentricity  and aggressiveness which is not socially accepted.

                           This  is  not  essential  that  the  individuals  who  get  fewer seizures, suffer  from  retardation  but  those  who get frequent fits show the deterioration  in  intelligence  and  up  to  the  extent  of  idiocy. This deterioration can be  up  to  the  extend  of  involvement  of  all aspects  of  the  personality. They  do  not have  any  interest  in  personal  appearance  and  welfare,  No  movement of enthusiasm  and spontaneity is lacking. They show paucity of ideas and lack of emotions. The  response  to  simple  questions  is  slow,  voice  is  flat and monotonous. This  can  be  treated  by  asking  him  to  recite  poems  and  participate in  the  plays  to  take  up  a  character  role  to  understand the control of tone and pitch of the voice.

                           They  are  physically  rundown  and  untidy. They  should  be  trained to  keep  themselves  tidy  and  smart by arranging picnics, parties and outdoor activities. The  male  and  female  patients  should  be  gathered together to the concerts  and  film  shows  and  TV  programmes  to  encourage  socialization.

                           If the epileptics are sent to school for normal children, the classmates  should  be  made  to  understand the  nature  of  attacks. So  that  there attitude  will  be  one  of  understanding  rather  than of disgust, fear and ridicules. In doubtful  case  give  attention  to  the  welfare  of  the  normal  children.

                            The special significance is the vocational guidance of these epileptics.  They  should be prepared to accept the safe occupations, which enable them  to  be  self-supporting. At  the  college  level  many  do satisfying work and many do not. The jobs like :

                          1. Supervisors
                          2. File work
                          3. Book - keepers
                          4. Stamping, etc are the useful jobs for these epileptics.

                                    EUGENIC IMPLICATIONS

        The shaking  thought  is that the  epileptic  should  marry  or  not  is  the  dilemma faced  by  many  epileptics. I may state here that is no rule that should be decided on its  merits. The  very  important  factors  are  the  severity  and  frequency  of the fits and personality involvements.

           To  be  fair  in  this  game is that the epileptic's physician should clarify the clear-cut  picture  of the epileptic to the individual  who  is  getting  married to this individual. Do  not  hesitate  to  emphasize  that   marriage ,  intercourse  and pregnancy do  not  modify  fits. The domestic  harmony  may  and  may not be shattered  by  the  fits  to  make  the marriage unsuccessful and even may be happy and successful marriage.

          To  get  the  patient, torn  between a desire  for  children  and  an  unwillingness to pass  on  his  affliction  to  his offspring. A genetic study shows that it is not essential that  they will have child who will suffer from fits unless it is a familial or hereditary illness.

              The other details of the O.T. will be symptomatic that an occupational therapist  comes  across .

.....Previous                                            BACK TO CONTENTS