7 Ways Schizophrenia Impacts Education
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that impairs an individual’s thinking, behavior, and emotions. Characterized by a distorted and disorganized perception of reality, schizophrenia presents significant barriers to learning. However, students diagnosed with schizophrenia are often eligible for a variety of accommodations, modifications, and services under IDEA, reducing barriers to academic success and assisting with the management of their symptoms. The first step in supporting students with schizophrenia is to gain an understanding of the various ways in which their condition impacts their academic experience.
How does schizophrenia impact a student’s education?
1. Disorganized Thinking
Students with schizophrenia often struggle with disorganized thinking, which is commonly identified by their tendency to abruptly switch from one topic to another, exhibiting unusual speech patterns, or giving verbal responses that are incoherent or nonsensical. Disorganized thinking has been linked to unusual activity in regions of the brain associated with:
Speech and language processing
Social interaction
Decision-making
Learning
Evaluating
Auditory perception
These impairments make it difficult for students to grasp what they’re being taught, or to provide verbal or written responses, making typical homework, classroom, and testing expectations incredibly challenging.
2. Confusing Reality
A common symptom of schizophrenia is confusing reality with dreams, television, or other fictional scenarios due to delusions and/or hallucinations. Delusions are beliefs that are not based in reality, such as being convinced that their classmates are private investigators hired to track them. Hallucinations involve seeing, smelling, feeling, tasting or hearing things that do not exist, such as vividly seeing a deceased relative, feeling a crawling sensation on their arms, or hearing threatening voices. These cognitive distortions can be terribly distressing, making it difficult for students with schizophrenia to remain alert and focused on learning. After a student has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, they may be eligible under the Emotional Disturbance Category of IDEA to receive a modified curriculum, related services, and accommodations to create a learning environment that is sensitive to their symptoms.
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3. Isolation
Social relationships are a key element to an optimal academic experience, which disadvantages students with schizophrenia who often feel alone or “othered” by their condition. Schizophrenia commonly causes students to have trouble reading social cues, building friendships, or developing strong connections with teachers. Some exhibit a “flat affect” meaning they show no emotional expression, while others experience a complete lack of motor or verbal responses, hindering any opportunity to meaningfully interact with others. To avoid the anxiety and social pressures of typical academic settings, some students with schizophrenia may stop attending school altogether.
4. Depression and Irritability
Social and educational successes are important factors in a student’s identity. Schizophrenia disrupts these dynamics, contributing to low self-esteem, irritability, or periods of debilitating depression. Students with schizophrenia struggle with emotional regulation and are more likely to self-harm, or abuse substances which can provoke harmful psychoses.
5. Low Motivation
Depending on the severity of a student’s symptoms, they may have trouble finding the motivation to carry out daily tasks such as studying, completing homework, and basic self-care. Academically, this can lead to delayed educational advancement. Consulting an educational psychologist can help you identify the various mental, emotional, and neurological conditions that, alongside schizophrenia, may be contributing to your student’s low motivation.
6. Abnormal or Inappropriate Behaviors
Students with schizophrenia may engage in behaviors that are inappropriate or at odds with what is expected for their age. They may be quick to become agitated, behave as if they are much younger than they are, or engage in private actions in public. These behavioral differences make it challenging for students with schizophrenia to adhere to typical classroom expectations.
7. Attention and Memory Problems
Schizophrenia can cause attention and memory problems in students, impairing organization and focus in class. Because schizophrenia has some overlapping symptoms with conditions such as ADHD and dissociative personality disorder, diagnostic testing is a critical first step in securing an accurate diagnosis and appropriate support for affected students.
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How Our Experienced Diagnosticians Can Help
While schizophrenia is a chronic and complex condition, individuals with schizophrenia are still capable and deserving of living fulfilling lives with effective support. If your student is impacted by schizophrenia, our doctors can provide comprehensive testing to evaluate the various ways their education is being impaired and provide tools and guidance for securing effective IEP support.
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References:
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Radanovic, M., de Sousa, R. T., Valiengo, L, Gattaz, W. F., Forlenza, O. V. (2013). Formal Thought Disorder and language impairment in schizophrenia. Views and Reviews, 71(1). Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1590/S0004-282X2012005000015
Childhood Schizophrenia (2021). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/childhood-schizophrenia/symptoms-causes/syc-20354483#:~:text=Schizophrenia%20involves%20a%20range%20of,your%20child%27s%20ability%20to%20function.
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Shinn. M.M. (2019). Preventing Suicide in Students: How 3-6 Questions Can Save Lives. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/preventing-student-suicide-with-just-a-few-simple-questions
Shinn. M.M. (2020). Understanding Education Plans: A Parent’s Guide to 504s and IEPs. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/understanding-education-plans-a-parents-guide-to-504s-and-ieps
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How to Cite This Blog Article:
Shinn. M.M. (2022). 7 Ways Schizophrenia Impacts Education. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/7-ways-schizophrenia-impacts-education