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Special Needs Children and Bedwetting
How to Talk to Your Doctor About It
By Shel Franco
If you're the parent of a specials needs child, you may be a bit more comfortable around medical professionals than other parents. After all, most children with special needs work with multiple healthcare providers, often at the same time. So to whom do you turn when you want to discuss bedwetting?
Bedwetting, also known as enuresis, is not unique to special needs children. According to Ruth London, M.D., a pediatric nephrologist at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago, 15 to 20 percent of 5-year-olds wet the bed at least twice a week. But there might be circumstances that are unique when it comes to talking with your doctor about bedwetting and your special needs child.
Dr. London says that bedwetting in children with special needs, including those with psychological diagnosis, attention deficit disorder, history of sexual or physical abuse, history of disturbed family dynamics or other stressful events, often requires a team of professionals to prepare an appropriate management plan. That means all of your doctors should be involved.
Talking with the professionals about your child's enuresis may not be your favorite subject, and it may even be embarrassing. But it's important to get your doctors' input on helping your child achieve as many personal goals as possible in order to maintain self-esteem.
You can bring up the topic with any one of your child's health care providers at any of your appointments. If the doctor feels unable to answer your question completely, he or she will refer you to someone who can. When you discuss the topic with your child's doctor, talk candidly about your concerns.