Soham Bobhate--- a rare case

We have a student called Soham Bobhate. He must be about eight years. Unfortunately Soham has a rare disease. It is termed as Lennox - Gastaut Syndrome [LGS]. It is difficult to treat form of childhood-onset epilepsy that most often appears between the second and sixth year of life, and is characterized by frequent seizures and different seizure types; it is often accompanied by mental retardation, psychological and behavioral problems.

Daily multiple seizures are typical in LGS. It is said that most of these seizures are nonconvulsive type, which is characterized by dizziness, apathy and unresponsiveness. The seizures can cause sudden falling and/ or loss of balance. The tonic type of seizures will mostly occur during night and in sleep.

In addition to daily multiple seizures of various types, children with LGS frequently have arrested or slowed psychomotor development and behavioral disorders.

Because of this LGS it is very difficult to manage Soham. Our teachers and co workers often feel that Soham does things or does not do a thing as per his mood and wish. But having gone through the medical information related to LGS, now I understand the case much better. How can we plan his syllabus? What should we do with him? Basically he is mentally challenged and thus morally we are bound to give him services. The incidence of LGS is low, as far as we are concerned, it is the first case. We were requesting his physician to reduce the dose of epileptic medication so that his drowsiness can be reduced. But now I understand, weather we reduce the medication or not, his nonconvulsive seizures will keep him drowsy and he will continue to even fall down and lose body balance anytime. We can not help that. Now I am thinking, what would be the ideal plan of action for Soham? let me give myself some time to think and than come back to the problem.

By: Navin Deshpande, Secretary, SSS

email: navindesh@gmail.com

website: www.sandnya.org