LEAD POISONING
According to Medicinenet.com, “Lead poisoning is an acute or chronic poisoning caused by the absorption of lead or any of its salts into the body” Lead poisoning can affect every part of one’s system in their body. Even low levels of lead exposure over time can cause severe health issues. It affects both children and adults, however, it is especially a hazard in younger children. Children are at more of a risk because they usually are putting objects and their hands in their mouths. Since younger children are growing rapidly, it can severally effect there mental and physical development. According to kidshealth.org, “Each year in the United States, 310,000 1- to 5-year-old kids are found to have unsafe levels of lead in their blood.” The more one is exposed to lead, the more the symptoms and health issues start to manifest. Some things that one can be EXPOSED to lead when in a building older then 1978 as around this time, lead paint was usually used. The dust and soil around this area can be contaminated, therefore, a child that digest the soil or anyone breathing the dusting air in. Drinking water if they go through pipes that were soldered with lead, and in areas with a lot of industrial pollution.
Definition
Instructional Strategies
Depending on how severe the lead poisoning is that the child has can effect their instructional accommodations. It is important that members of the school team understand that lead poisoning can affect a child’s ability to learn, pay attention, think, or behave appropriately. This is because of the damage it can have on the child’s developing brain. The teacher should take the approach and access the areas that the child needs additional help in, get the resources needed to best accommodate the child, and understand the child’s struggles due to their condition.
Strategies/ Support
- Preferential seating: Some children with processing problems may also need direct "attention holding" contact, often from only 3 feet away.
- Make sure you are checking up on the child so they are not falling behind or getting distracted. Let child know they can ask for repetition or clarification from teacher or buddy.
a. Give short breaks to child if needed
b. Give directions more then once; one direction at a time
- Referral to Speech/Language Resource: Consultation or direct work on auditory processing and language stimulation if child is affected in this area.
- Referral to School Psychologist: Direct intervention to improve play behavior and social interaction; help child with any emotional problems arising from this condition; and direct classroom activities.
o Make sure teacher is working and communicating with and additional adult helping so everyone is on the same page.
Source: Winner, A. (12, November 13). The Early Lead Poisoned Child in the Classroom. Retrieved
December 05, 2017, from http://www.lead.org.au/lanv2n3/lanv2n3-10.html
Useful Websites
https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/tips.htm
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Prevention, who is at risk, and how people can be exposed to lead
https://www.webmd.com/children/tc/lead-poisoning-topic-overview#1
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Information about lead poisoning for adults and children
http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/lead-poisoning.html
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Link specifically for children who may have lead poisoning
https://www.news-medical.net/?tag=/Lead-Poisoning
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Further links describing what lead poisoning his causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
Research
http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/27/health/lead-levels-children-study/index.html
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This website gives recent information on lead poisoning and how unfortunately there are more cases of children having high lead levels that are not being tested (elevated blood lead levels are up from 1999 to 2010)
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This is a new research study that questions levels of lead exposure that the Center for Disease Control considers safe.
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This recent study suggests that there is a link between early childhood exposure to lead and a person cognitive ability later in life.
