How Does Having A Special Needs Child Affect A Family?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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For parents, having a disabled child may increase stress, take a toll on mental and physical health , make it difficult to find appropriate and affordable child care, and affect decisions about work, education/training, having additional children, and relying on public support.

How does having a special needs sibling affect you?

Siblings of children with may experience a “wide range of emotions .” 5 Some feel guilty because they wonder if they caused the disability. They may feel guilt about being resentful or frightened about the sibling's health. Some may experience a “love/hate relationship” with the disabled brother or sister.

How does disability impact family?

Many families actually report that the presence of disability has strengthened them as a family—they become closer, more accepting of others, have deeper faith , discover new friends, develop greater respect for life, improve their sense of mastery, and so on.

How do intellectual disabilities impact on other family members?

The majority of this research has involved maternal well-being with a consensus that raising a child with intellectual disabilities increases stress levels , negatively affects family functioning, and increases depression. These findings are increased if the child has coexisting behavioral problems.

How does a child with learning disabilities affect the family?

Findings showed that children with learning disabilities had a range of effects on their families. These included family stress, parenting discrepancies, negative reactions from extended family members , difficulty in interacting with the school, and mixed effects upon siblings.

What is the effect of the disability on the child?

For parents, having a disabled child may increase stress , take a toll on mental and physical health, make it difficult to find appropriate and affordable child care, and affect decisions about work, education/training, having additional children, and relying on public support.

How does physical disability affect a person?

Physical disabilities limit a person's movement, stamina, or overall functioning . A disability can be temporary, long-term, or permanent. Someone can become disabled because of injury, illness, or genetic disorders.

Why are siblings so important?

Siblings are important for many reasons. First, given their closeness in age, kids may be more likely to tell their siblings things that they might not tell their parents. ... There is evidence to suggest that healthy sibling relationships promote empathy , prosocial behavior and academic achievement.

How does mental illness affect siblings?

It is now understood that mental illness in a family creates a ripple effect that can capsize well siblings and lead them to feel as though they are plummeting downward into a sea of confusion, despair, hopelessness, anger and grief.

How are siblings affected by autism?

Siblings of autistic children are more likely than siblings of children without the condition to be withdrawn and to have poor social skills. They also fare worse socially and emotionally , by various measures, than do siblings of children with intellectual disability or other forms of developmental delay.

What is the difference between intellectual and learning disability?

An intellectual disability describes below-average IQ and a lack of skills needed for daily living . This condition used to be called “mental retardation.” A learning disability refers to weaknesses in certain academic skills. Reading, writing and math are the main ones.

What are the 4 levels of an intellectual disability?

  • mild.
  • moderate.
  • severe.
  • profound.

How do you discipline a child with intellectual disability?

  1. Praise good behaviors, ignore bad behaviors (if possible). ...
  2. If possible, determine the underlying cause for the behaviors and address it. ...
  3. Avoid punishments. ...
  4. Model appropriate behaviors yourself. ...
  5. Give countdowns. ...
  6. If you're having trouble, give choices.

What are the 5 developmental disabilities?

Examples of developmental disabilities include autism, behavior disorders, brain injury, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, intellectual disability, and spina bifida . For more information, see the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000.

How does learning disabilities affect the child growth and development?

The learning disabled show an uneven pattern of development (language development, physical development, academic development and/or perceptual development). Learning problems are not due to environmental disadvantage . Learning problems are not due to mental retardation or emotional disturbance.

What is considered developmental disability?

Developmental disabilities are a group of conditions due to an impairment in physical, learning, language, or behavior areas . These conditions begin during the developmental period, may impact day-to-day functioning, and usually last throughout a person's lifetime.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.