How Bipolar Disorder Affects Cognition and Learning
Bipolar disorder affects learning in a number of ways, ranging from difficulties with sleep, energy, school attendance, concentration, executive function, and cognition in addition to side effects from medications can affect the child’s learning and energy. Students with bipolar disorder may struggle to pay attention, remember and recall information, think critically, categorize, and organize information, employ problem-solving skills, quickly coordinate eye-hand movements but with appropriate accommodations for students with bipolar disorder they have just as much of an opportunity to succeed as any other student.
These students are vulnerable to stress that can easily overwhelm their coping skills. Therefore, it is paramount to their success in the classroom to reduce exposure to stressors and help them build coping skills that they will need throughout their lives.
Teaching Strategies For Students With Bipolar Disorder
Being flexible and adapting assignments, curriculum and presentation style as needed.
Being patient to ignore minor negative behaviors, encourage positive behaviors, and provide positive behavioral choices. Most important is the ability to stay calm and be a model of desired behavior.
Having good conflict management skills to resolve conflicts in a non-confrontational, non-combative, safe, and positive manner.
Receptivity to change and to working collaboratively with the child’s parents, doctors, and other professionals to best meet the needs of the child.
The ability to laugh at oneself and at situations. Teachers who can laugh at their own mistakes, and bring fun and humor into the classroom reduce the level of stress that students feel.
Be resourceful, caring, and calm
Using social stories to rehearse new situations
Good communication between your classroom/school and home
Additional Resources and Strategies for Teachers can be found here:
In-Classroom accommodations: http://www.bipolarchildsupport.com/teacherguide2.html, http://www.bipolarchildsupport.com/teacherguide1.html,
School site accommodations: http://www.bipolarchildsupport.com/teachingbipolarchild.html
Books: "Swivel to Success - Bipolar Disorder in the Classroom: A Teacher's Guide to Helping Students Succeed" https://www.amazon.com/Swivel-Success-Disorder-Classroom-Teachers/dp/0981739652/
A Story for Children with Bipolar Disorder: "Brandon and the Bipolar Bear" https://www.amazon.com/dp/0981739636/, Narrated Video: https://vimeo.com/8098332
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