OHI – Other Health Impairments

Whether a condition falls under OHI depends on the limitations the condition places on the student in three different areas: alertness, strength and vitality. A student who has a condition that limits her in a learning situation any of these areas has an OHI for special education classification purposes.

Conditions

OHI includes many conditions, and not all OHI Some students experience cognitive impairments. Within schools, health conditions such as asthma, diabetes and seizure disorders are also considered other health impairments (OHI). Illnesses like cancer, sickle cell anemia and heart problems fall under the same classification. A common OHI is attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Because conditions like diabetes and asthma can often be managed with medication and have little effect on learning, ADHD tends to present greater classroom challenges.

Special Education

A student with an OHI that is limiting her ability to learn, such as ADHD, is eligible for special education services. Schools must evaluate a student who is suspected to have an OHIThe student’s medical history is reviewed, and she completes tests that measure intelligence and understanding. The school typically adds behavioral and academic evaluations as well. Based on the combined findings, the student may be eligible for special education supports that are intended to help her learn and succeed despite the OHI that interferes with her schoolwork.