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Bedwetting and Developmental Delays
How the Urinary System Works in Kids
By Beth Skarupa
While you are working on the problem, it is helpful to use absorbent disposable underpants. Whether using them during the day or at night, when kids feel dry, it can help their self-esteem and prevent embarrassment caused by wet pants. An added bonus for parents is fewer loads of wet laundry.
Any conditions affecting the brain or the spinal cord can cause urinary incontinence. For example, spina bifida basically scrambles the wiring at the spinal level. This may affect any part of the transmission or response system. Dr. Cisek explains that the disruption usually is in the reflex – either blocking it, un-regulating it or blocking transmission of bladder tension to the brain or the reception of inhibitory input.
Children with learning disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have an increased incidence of bedwetting as well as daytime incontinence. Dr. Cisek says this may cause problems such as a failure to learn how to relax the inhibition or to attend to the filling signal. Children with Down syndrome have problems primarily due to their learning impairment. Children with autism have problems related to sensory issues.
Children with cerebral palsy tend to have a "spasticity," which can present as an overactive bladder, while children with cystic fibrosis have a high incidence of bedwetting for unknown reasons.
But no matter what your child's special need, Dr. Hellerstein urges parents and caregivers to remember that special needs kids deserve the same ongoing attention, support and management for incontinence as children who have no developmental delays.
*Names have been changed for privacy.
Want to see more?
- Getting the Facts Straight About Bedwetting in Special Needs Kids
- Bedwetting and Special Needs Kids
- Dry Days Ahead Helping Special Needs Children Learn to Use the Toilet
- Absorbent Undergarments and Special Needs Children
- Words That Heal: Incontinence Solutions for Special Needs Kids
- Bedwetting and Summer Camp: Does Your Special Needs Child Have to Miss Out on All the Fun?
- Under Special Circumstances: Sleep Disorders and Bedwetting in Special Needs Children