Special needs children can be a broad term that without proper definitions, can lead to the lack of proper care for many children. It is a broad term that encompasses behavioral, mental, developmental delays, and/or congenital conditions. Special needs also has generated such a stigma that it can be intimidating to really look into if your children have special needs or not.
Special needs are commonly defined by what children can’t do and their challenges. Parents often mourn their child’s lost potential, unmet milestones, food challenges and anything else that may make the child’s and parents’ lives a little more difficult. In this article, we will dive into what special needs truly means, and what are some great resources for you and your family, shall you need them.
Medical Issues
Medical issues for children include serious conditions like cancer, heart defects, muscular dystrophy and cystic fibrosis. They also can include chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, congenital conditions like cerebral palsy and dwarfism and other health threats like allergies and obesity. Children may need a lot of testing, require some stays in the hospital, special equipment, and accommodations for disabilities. Establishing a good support system is very important when dealing with uncertainty and any medical crises.
Behavioral Issues
Children with behavioral issues may not respond to traditional discipline. Those diagnosed with ADHD, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, dysfunction of sensory integration and Tourette’s syndrome require specialized strategies that are tailored to their specific needs. Behavior issues can increase the risk of problems at school, in society, and carry a risk for poor adjustment into adulthood. Without proper intervention at early and appropriate times, children have an increased chance of incarceration, poor adjustment, failed relationships, and other social maladjustment.
Developmental Issues
Developmental disabilities can change your visions of the future and provide immediate difficulties in providing care and educating your child. Autism, Down Syndrome and other intellectual disabilities may cause children to be removed from the mainstream. They are often removed from their classrooms and put in areas that are meant to help them thrive, but may actually hinder their social adjustment. They also may have very low-functioning disorders that require a lot of extra assistance, including a multidisciplinary team of speech pathologists, physical therapists, behavioral counselors and teaching assistance.
Learning Issues
Children with learning disabilities like dyslexia and auditory processing disorder struggle with schoolwork regardless of their intellectual abilities. They require specialized learning strategies to meet their potential and avoid self-esteem problems and behavioral difficulties. Parents of learning-challenged kids need to be persistent by working with your child at home as well as teachers and schools to ensure they get all the help they need.
Mental Health Issues
Realizing that your child suffers from anxiety or depression or has attachment difficulties can be unexpected. Every child will be different, but this can leave your family dealing with a roller coaster of mood swings, cries, and defiance. It is important to consider professional help when dealing with mental health because it is not a one-dimensional approach. Parents will need to make decisions about therapy, medications and possibly, hospitalization. Mental health is another issue that has garnered a lot of stigma, but still requires a lot of attention as they could quickly spiral into something uncontrollable.
Resources
All of these issues are considered special needs and they all require their own type of approach. Most of the time, especially dealing with children, there is going to be a multi-dimensional approach meaning there are going to be several professionals involved in order to address the various issues that can encompass the various disorders.
For example, if children have physical disabilities, then it’s important to have a physical therapist on board to help them learn to function with as much normality as possible. If your child has behavioral issues, then it’s important to have homogeneity and consistency in different domains between home, school, and any other settings where children spend large amounts of time, so everyone has to be on the same page. If you have a behavioral therapist, they can create a plan that everyone can follow between the home, teachers, and other authority figures in their lives. Without this consistency, it can be hard to see true progress and get children to learn what behavior is appropriate and what behavior isn’t.
Children who have learning disabilities may require in-classroom care with paraprofessionals and other professionals who can help to manage classroom environment. Outside of school, they may require a speech pathologist and a tutor to help them reach their milestones.
Diverse Health Services also has some great resources for you and your family. By clicking on the services tab, you can see everything we offer from in-home care to transportation assistance. As a caregiver, raising a special needs child can be emotionally, financially, and physically taxing. We can help provide some support for that. We offer transportation in case they have a physical disability and transporting them from place to place is difficult. We also can help with monitoring medicine intake, cooking, cleaning and anything else that can help alleviate the struggles of being a caretaker of a special needs child.
If your child meets any of the above descriptions, then they are considered special needs and have needs that should be addressed as quickly as possible. Please reach out to us for our services and if we can assist your family in any way.
https://www.verywellfamily.com/what-are-special-needs-3106002
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