Introduction:
Children with special needs mean they are children who have some kind of a disability and need special care and help. Children with special needs (CWSN) stands for such children. The level of special needs is decided based on the child’s state and the severity of the disease. Special needs include pathological or medical tests, frequent hospitalizations, equipment for assistance, and special accommodation for disabled people. In a few cases, the fact that the child is special is obvious in cases like where the child is deaf, blind, or absent of upper or lower limbs, etc. In other cases, the special needs of the child are not very apparent, for example, if the child has autism, dyslexia, dysgraphia, etc, and can be difficult to detect.
Who Are the Children With Special Needs (CWSN)?
Special needs children are born with types of diseases, disorders, syndromes, terminal illnesses, cognitive impairment, or psychiatric problems. Some children can have certain food allergies, learning disabilities, delays in development, etc. Children with special needs (CWSN) is a category for such special children. Every child is special but children with special needs (CWSN) have a serious level of challenges in front of them compared to normal children and these difficulties last for a lifetime in special needs children. Children with special needs need extra attention, care, and assistance in various day-to-day activities from their parents, guardians, or family. They may need support and assistance in social, medical, emotional, academic areas. They may not be able to deal with their finances or employment, and may not be able to live their life independently which makes them dependent on the people around them.
Early detection of the disability is important to help and take care of the child’s academic, and social part of their life. The initial process of detection of the disability is known as early intervention, and it is important to encourage developmental growth in special needs children.
What Is Meant by Special Needs?
Special needs are defined as the extra support, attention, and assistance given to children with disability. Various impairments, diseases, disorders, conditions, and syndromes come under the category of special needs. Chronic or terminal illnesses, psychiatric conditions, and cognitive problems are also special needs. Special needs of special children have to be provided for the long-term or also for a lifetime, it consumes the parents or the guardian's finances. The parents or the guardians have to stay emotionally and physically strong to provide the special needs children with the utmost care. Evaluating the condition of the child and giving them the best medical care available is a must. If the condition of the special needs children is life-threatening, then the surrounding responsible people and the physicians have to stay alert and the children may also need constant medical assistance. The people who took the responsibility for the special needs child and their physicians have to monitor them regularly to avoid any serious outcomes. Sometimes animals such as dogs are trained to become the special needs children’s support animals. Dogs help them cope with the emotional challenges they face and also help them in all possible daily activities. Some equipment is invented to help people with their mobility so that they can independently move from one place to another.
What Is Meant by Children With Special Needs (CWSN)?
Children with special needs (CWSN) have some kind of disability and need exceptional, extra help and assistance. The special needs of these special needs children vary according to their condition.
Children with special needs can be classified as follows:
1. Physical:
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Physical disability comprises conditions and disorders like epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, locomotor disability, and so on.
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In these, the child with special needs assistance with mobility and maintaining the balance of the body. They may need the support of equipment or another human to walk or perform any kind of physical movement.
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Cases of impairment due to brain damage can be seen in conditions like cerebral palsy.
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Cerebral palsy is not progressive and happens at birth or before the birth of the child. Muscle coordination is restricted in cerebral palsy. Still, muscular atrophy occurs and the extent of the condition increases over some time.
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A group of neuromuscular disorders that are genetic and cause overall loss of muscles and weakness of muscles is known as muscular dystrophy. It is a progressive disease which means it gets worse over time.
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Muscular dystrophy cannot be cured but few therapies and medications can pacify the symptoms and can slow down the spread of the disease.
2. Sensory:
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Disabilities related to the sensory organs of the body include blindness, deafness, low vision, and difficulty hearing. These conditions are not limited to just one sensory ability but can comprise multiple sensory abilities.The disability of other sensory abilities such as smell, touch, taste, and spatial awareness can also be present in many cases. These disabilities can be transferred genetically from parents to the offspring but other reasons like injuries or infections can also play an important role and are seen in several cases.
3. Developmental:
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Developmental disabilities like autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), fragile X syndrome, down syndrome, spina bifida, and many other genetic diseases or disabilities occur in this category. A complex neurodevelopmental condition is known as autism. Another name for autism is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It affects the communication and behavior of the person. Every autism-affected person is distinct and different from others with the same diagnosis.
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The signs and symptoms can be seen in the initial first two years of age. Down syndrome or trisomy 21 is a genetically transferred condition where the offspring is born with an extra partial or full copy of chromosome 21. In this condition, the mental and physical aspects get affected.
4. Behavioral and Emotional:
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In this type, the children can find it difficult to build or nurture their interpersonal relationships and they may also find it difficult to learn things. They may also suffer from anxiety, depression, etc. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one example of this category.
Conclusion:
The special needs of special children are a vast and huge topic of discussion. The parents or guardians of children with special needs may face an emotional downfall. They may find it difficult to accept the condition of their child, they may become depressed or anxious, also they can get anti-social, and so on. The special needs can be sufficed by understanding your child, being patient with your child, socializing, and educating your child accordingly. Every child is special and should be treated with love, care, and respect.
