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Under Special Circumstances
Sleep Disorders and Bedwetting in Special Needs Children
By Carma Haley Shoemaker
"My daughter started wetting the bed when she was about 2 years," says Yvette, a mother in Phoenix, Ariz. "I talked to her doctor and while he is unworried, he did explain to me how it may be a genetic problem. My daughter's father wet the bed until he was 12."
There are many available treatments – both medical and at home – for bedwetting, but the treatments do not differentiate between a special needs child and one without special needs. "Treatments for bedwetting are created and designed for children period," says Dr. Sheldon. "There is not one set of treatments for children with special needs and another set for those who do not have special needs. The problem may be caused by different circumstances and manifest for different reasons, but the condition is the same."
One of the first steps many parents take when dealing with enuresis is to use disposable absorbent underpants while working on the problem. Absorbent underpants often help kids' self-esteem by alleviating the embarrassment of waking to cold, wet sheets. In addition, they allow kids to enjoy activities such as sleepovers with non-bedwetting friends.
When assisting a child in overcoming bedwetting, Dr. Sheldon says it is important to treat the accompanying sleeping disorder. In addition, he advises parents to remember two things: patience and understanding. "A special needs child is ust that – a special needs child," he says. "This means not only do they have a special need in a physical or mental capacity, but also in an emotional one as well. You can't separate the two conditions. One may lead to, cause or exacerbate the other. Don't assume that your child is never going to learn or is never going to overcome their sleeping disorders and bedwetting. With your understanding, encouragement and patience, he/she will – in their own time and at their own pace – overcome it just as any other child would."