Quite often, however, they must have a series of operations throughout their childhood. School programs should be flexible to accommodate these special needs. Many children with myelomeningocele need training to learn to manage their bowel and bladder functions. Some require catheterization, or the insertion of a tube to permit passage of urine. The courts have held that clean, intermittent catheterization is necessary to help the child benefit from and have access to special education and related services.
Many children learn to catheterize themselves at a very early age.
A successful bladder management program can be incorporated into the regular school day. In some cases, children with spina bifida who also have a history of hydrocephalus experience learning problems. They may have difficulty with paying attention, expressing or understanding language, and grasping reading and math. Early intervention with children who experience learning problems can help considerably to prepare them for school. Mainstreaming, or successful integration of a child with spina bifida into a school attended by nondisabled young people, sometimes requires changes in school equipment or the curriculum.