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Home › Articles › Bedwetting › Misinformed

Misinformed

Getting the Facts Straight About Bedwetting in Special Needs Kids

By Lyn Mettler

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This is true in some cases, but not in others. For example, children with nerve disorders such as spina bifida actually may never develop continence because the nerves controlling their urinary system are affected.

The best way to know for sure is to have your child evaluated by their physician to rule out any physical causes.

"Children with special needs are more likely to have rare medical conditions that may relate to enuresis; therefore, a comprehensive medical evaluation is especially important," says Dr. Pakula.

Myth 6: It's a serious problem.

Bedwetting itself is never a serious problem. Many children experience it, and it's not even considered a problem at all until the child reaches the age of 5 or 6, according to Dr. Pakula.

"Most children, including children with special needs, eventually either outgrow bedwetting or overcome bedwetting with treatment," says Dr. Pakula.

Bedwetting can, however, signal a more serious problem, particularly if your child starts to wet the bed after having been dry at night. Urinary tract infections and unchecked diabetes can both cause bedwetting, as can sexual abuse, stress (such as a death, move or new baby) or bullying.

Cate, the mother of a 7-year-old with a rare disorder called Cohen's syndrome, which causes seizures and speech-language problems, says her son began wetting the bed after being dry for an entire summer. After meeting with doctors, they're still not quite sure what's causing the bedwetting, but, she says, her doctors are not too concerned about it yet. "In the scheme of things, when you look at the other issues to be dealt with, it is not that big of a deal," she says. "It's not our highest priority at this point to deal with it."


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