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School functioning and disease severity in boys with hemophilia
A Woolf1, L Rappaport, P Reardon
1Division of Ambulatory Medicine, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Summary
Children with hemophilia (a bleeding disorder) still face significant school absenteeism and underachievement in reading and math, despite educational advancements and home therapy. Many students below expectations lack current educational remediation plans.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Hematology
- Educational Psychology
Background:
- Few studies examine scholastic progress in children with hemophilia.
- Educational legislation (PL94-142) and home Factor VIII therapy may impact academic performance.
- Investigating educational outcomes for hemophilia patients is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the educational functioning of boys with hemophilia.
- To determine the impact of hemophilia on academic achievement.
- To identify potential correlations between underachievement and disease factors.
Main Methods:
- Surveyed parents and teachers regarding educational status.
- Administered reading and math achievement tests to 22 boys.
- Collected data on school absenteeism and disease severity.
Main Results:
- School absenteeism remains high, averaging 18 days per year.
- Despite normal intelligence and grades, 27% of tested boys underachieved in reading or math by over two grade levels.
- Underachievement did not consistently correlate with disease severity or absenteeism.
Conclusions:
- Hemophilia continues to present challenges to consistent school attendance and academic success.
- A significant number of boys with hemophilia underachieve academically without identified educational support.
- Further investigation into tailored educational interventions is warranted for this population.