Summary:
You have received a referral to evaluate Henry, a third-grader whose teacher is concerned about his illegible handwriting. On your pre-assessment checklist, the teacher also notes that Henry has poor sitting posture, often seems fatigued, and has a loose pencil grasp. Upon reviewing his school record, you see that Henry has a medical condition called Marfan syndrome. You wonder what this is, and whether it has any bearing on his school performance.
Marfan syndrome is one of the most common inherited disorders affecting the body’s connective tissues, particularly in the eyes, skeleton and major blood vessels. A person who has Marfan syndrome is born with the disorder, even though the characteristics of the syndrome may not be evident until later in life. Not every person with Marfan syndrome experiences the same physical characteristics and often this syndrome goes undiagnosed until adolescence or adulthood.
Objectives:
The goal of this program is to provide occupational therapists with information about the pathology, manifestations and treatment of Marfan syndrome. After studying the information presented here, you will be able to —
- Identify pathological changes associated with Marfan syndrome.
- Discuss major criteria needed for a diagnosis.
- Describe ways to meet the occupational needs of school-aged children and adolescents with this syndrome.
Accreditation Information
Gannett Education is an approved provider of continuing education for occupational therapists by the American Occupational Therapy Association. AOTA does not endorse specific course content, products, or clinical procedures.
Gannett Education is also accredited by the Florida Board of Occupational Therapy (provider # FBN 50-1489).
Continuing education approved by the American Occupational Therapy Association is accepted for relicensure by the state boards for occupational therapists in: Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia.