Other Health Impairment (OHI)

Other health impairment, or OHI, is an IDEA category for children whose learning is affected by a chronic or acute health condition that limits their strength, energy, or alertness. The list of conditions it can cover is broad — ADHD, epilepsy, asthma, diabetes, heart conditions, Tourette syndrome, and more — as long as the condition affects the child's alertness to the educational environment and their access to learning.

ADHD is one of the most common reasons a child qualifies under OHI. A child whose attention, impulse control, or energy regulation makes grade-level learning hard may need specialized instruction and supports, and OHI is often the door through which that help comes. Some children with these conditions are served through a 504 plan instead, depending on whether they need special education or just accommodations.

Because OHI hinges on how a condition affects a child at school, documentation from doctors can be part of the picture, but the school still conducts its own evaluation of educational impact. If your child has a health condition that is clearly interfering with learning, you can request an evaluation in writing. The resulting plan should address both the learning needs and any health-related supports the child requires during the day.