Although the findings may not be all that surprising, new research shows that children with chronic pain are significantly more likely to deal with life events that can contribute to poorer school performance.

According to the research, 81.5 percent of children with a history of chronic pain reported dealing with at least one adverse life event that could have impacted their school performance. Children with chronic pain were more likely to report:

• Missing school due to not feeling well.
• Missing school for medical treatment.
• Having a difficult time paying attention in class.
• Finding it hard to keep up with school activities.

Chronic Pain In School Children

As you can see, it’s clearly important for children, their parents and the education staff to develop a comprehensive care plan for dealing with chronic illnesses and flareups. These kids probably feel ostracized enough without having to feel like they’re falling behind on homework or with the curriculum. Here’s a look at some ways all of these groups can come together to ensure everyone is on the same page.

• Children need to be proactive about getting homework and lesson plans from the classes they’ve missed.
• Parents need to stress the importance of getting homework and ensure children aren’t missing assignments from missed classes.
• Parents need to talk with school staff about the child’s potential health issues so it’s on their radar.
• School staff need to realize that children aren’t using their chronic condition as a crutch or an excuse.
• Parents and children should ensure they get a doctor’s note for medical appointments during class.
• If homework extensions are needed, let the teacher know as far in advance as possible.
• Consider supplemental education resources, like tutoring or extra credit.
• If any party has concerns, they should be brought up sooner rather than later so there aren’t any misunderstandings.
• Once you find a routine that works, do what you can to stay in that routine.

Chronic pain can be tough to deal with, but it’s even more difficult if you’re a kid in school trying to learn and make friends. If your child needs help with any aspect of their chronic pain care plan, reach out to Dr. Cohn’s office today.