Embedded Files
Author: Imonni Jones
Learning Targets: By the end of this lesson students should be able to:
Define Hydrocephalus and understand it's potential effects on learning.
Identify challenges students with Hydrocephalus face.
Apply teaching strategies and accommodations to support students with Hydrocephalus.
Who is this little girl, and why does she have this incision on her head?
Who is this little girl, and why does she have this incision on her head?
My life
I had to be delivered immediately at twenty-nine weeks, which caused me to be born three months premature weighing only one pound, eight ounces at birth. I had to stay in the hospital NICU for two and a half months until I was strong enough to go home.
At the age of four, a month before my fifth birthday I started getting sick so we were sent to MCV to have a CT scan. After further examination of me and my scans the neurosurgeon informed us that I had a life-threatening condition known as Hydrocephalus which is when fluid builds up on the brain and can’t drain properly on its own and I would need to have surgery as soon as possible. The surgery would be to place a medical device on my brain known as a VP shunt that would steadily help the access fluid drain from my brain. He told us that this condition sometimes happens when a baby is born severely pre-mature and may present itself as the baby develops and gets older.
Hydrocephalus in the Classroom
Imagine being a student in a classroom, who struggles with memory, attention or motor skills. Not because you're uninterested or not putting in effort, but because of a neurological condition. What strategies could you use to help this student succeed? This situation is common for students with Hydrocephalus, a neurological condition that affects learning and daily life.
Hydrocephalus is a neurological condition that occurs when cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) builds up in the ventricles of the brain, causing them to enlarge and press on brain tissue (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2023).
Image showing a Childs brain without Hydrocephalus on the left side and a child with Hydrocephalus on the right side (Nemours KidsHealth, n.d.)
In children, this can be:
Congenital, caused by developmental abnormalities in the brain, or
Acquired, resulting from infections, trauma, tumors, or hemorrhage (Kahle et al., 2016).
Symptoms vary by age and can include rapid head growth, vomiting, sleepiness, seizures, and developmental delays (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2023; Kahle et al., 2016). In school-aged children, Hydrocephalus often leads to headaches, attention problems, difficulty focusing, and fatigue (Hydrocephalus Association, 2002).
Recognizing these symptoms early allows teachers and parents to plan supports that reduce the impact on learning and social growth.
Students with Hydrocephalus may experience challenges with memory, organization, and executive fuctioning (Lindquist et al., 2008). For example, a child may forget multi-step directions or need more time to complete written assignments.
Teachers can support these students by:
Providing both written and verbal directions
Allowing extra time for tests and projects
Give frequent breaks
Seat the students near the front of the room
Communicating regularly with families and medical professionals (Hydrocephalus Association, 2002; Hydrocephaalus Canada, 2025)
These accommodations help students stay engaged, lower stress, and achieve success alongside their peers.
"This 2 minute video offers students the understanding of what Hydrocephalus is and the treatment for hydrocephalus"
Learning about Hydrocephalus highlights the importance of inclusion and individualized support in education. Students with Hydrocephalus can thrive when teachers understand their needs and create flexible, supportive classroom environments.
As someone who personally lives with Hydrocephalus, I know how valuable it is to have teachers who break lessons into smaller steps, offer one-on-one help, and provide extra time for processing. With the right understanding and strategies, every student has the opportunity to succeed.
My personal story
When I was diagnosed with Hydrocephalus and had my surgery I was only four years. So I don't remember a lot of the things that occurred during my younger years , so I interviewed my mom to get her in-site about the support I received in terms of my learning and my teacher interaction. She stated having a child with hydrocephalus is very challenging, you have to learn as a parent how to support that child, and how to come up with strategies that work to assist them with their educational learning and their everyday life. You have to be able to communicate those strategies to the teachers so that they understand what works. She stated that one of the frustrations she encountered was that when she was communicating the strategies that worked for me teachers would look at her as if she didn't know what she was talking about because she wasn't a teacher even though she had already did the research so she knew what worked for me. Another thing that was frustrating was having to repeat to some teachers what strategies did and didn't work for me, and having some teachers who didn't read my accommodations. So what she would do at the beginning of the school year was meet with all my teachers and go over my accommodations, and let them know what my Hydrocephalus was and what I needed every year. Some things that she appreciated were that I had some really great teachers and a good support system once they understood what it was and how to support and teach me. They became advocates for me, and worked together as a team to make sure I had what I needed. They made sure I had the accommodations that I needed. She also appreciated the support from my neurological team of doctors and nurses to make sure that I had the proper accommodations in place to help me succeed.
Here is an AI image I had created of my mom having a discussion with teachers.
Conclusion
As a student with hydrocephalus, I've appreciated the teachers who communicated with me and understood that not all students learn the same. Students with hydrocephalus can face challenges that aren't always visible, such as headaches, fatigue, or concentration issues. Teachers can make a huge difference by being aware of these symptoms and responding in a way that shows the student and their families that they care. From my experience teachers who have empathy and can be flexible and help all students with or without a medical condition are great teachers. Understanding and having patience is a huge key to being a. good teachers.
Knowledge Question
What causes Hydrocephalus?
A. Buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain
B. Damage to the spinal cord
C. Lack of oxygen in the bloodstream
D. Low blood pressure
Correct Answer: A
Application Question
One of your students has a (VP) shunt for hydrocephalus. During class, the student complains of a severe headache, appears very tired, and begins vomiting. What is the action for you to take as the teacher?
A. Allow the student to rest in the classroom for a while
B. Send the student to the nurse immediately and inform the parents
C. Wait to see of the symptoms improve before taking action
D. Give the student pain medicine to help relieve their headache
Correct Answer: B
How I used AI
For the assignment, I used ChatGPT to help revise amd edit my final Wikibook lesson. I used it to help me with my grammar and to help with my lesson flow. Using AI made the writing and revision process easier and faster. It helped me understand how to connect my lesson to the audience who would be reviewing it. I feel like it made my final lesson evem better and helped me write more professionally. Overall, I think AI is a useful tool when it is used in the right way. I use it as a guide and editor when I am confused about an assignment. .
References
Hydrocephalus Association. (2002). A teacher’s guide to hydrocephalus.
https://www.hydroassoc.org/docs/A_Teachers_Guide_to_Hydrocephalus.pdf
Hydrocephalus Canada. (2025). Back to school tips for kids with hydrocephalus and spina bifida: Essential advice for parents and young students.
https://www.hydrocephalus.ca/who-we-are/education/back-to-school-tips-for-kids-with-hydrocephalus-and-spina-bifida-essential-advice-for-parents-and-young-students/
Kahle, K. T., et al. (2016). Hydrocephalus in children. The Lancet, 387(10020), 788–799.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60694-8
Lindquist, B., Persson, E. K., Uvebrant, P., & Carlsson, G. (2008). Learning, memory and executive functions in children with hydrocephalus. Acta Paediatrica, 97(5), 596–601.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1651-2227.2008.00747.x
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2023, September 15). Hydrocephalus. Mayo Clinic.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hydrocephalus/symptoms-causes/syc-2037364
Nemours KidsHealth. (n.d.). Image of brain affect and not affected. KidsHealth
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