12.4: Causes and Characteristics of Severe Disabilities
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- 178879
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The causes and characteristics of severe disabilities vary by student. This section of the chapter will provide an overview of common causes and characteristics but does not provide a comprehensive list. Severe disabilities may be caused by both genetic and environmental factors, including chromosomal disorders (e.g., Hurler syndrome, Tay–Sachs disease); prenatal (e.g., the use of drugs or alcohol by the pregnant mother), perinatal (e.g., anoxia and other birth-related injuries), or postnatal trauma (e.g., childhood diseases and infections); and childhood head injuries and exposure to environmental toxins. In addition, the lack of early intervention or appropriate health-related services may contribute to a mild disability becoming more severe as a child develops.
Intellectual disability is often one of the disabilities experienced by students with severe disabilities. However, that may not always be the case. For example, a student may experience severe physical and health disabilities and demonstrate above-average intellectual abilities. In addition, students with severe disabilities may experience developmental delays impacting motor function, speech and language, cognition, and social and emotional development (Smiley et al., 2022). Students with severe disabilities may require a wider range of related services, including nursing and other health-related services in school. However, it is important to ensure that these students experience an inclusive education and that educators and clinicians work to actively facilitate the development of relationships between students with and without disabilities
Smiley, L. R., Richards, S.B., & Taylor, R. (2022). Exceptional students: Preparing teachers for the 21st century (4th ed.). McGraw Hill.