Taking good care of the teeth and gums is critical to a person’s overall health. Healthy teeth and gums allow people to chew food, speak properly, avoid pain and tooth loss, smile, and feel good about themselves. Children with disabilities are almost twice as likely to have unmet oral health care needs than their peers… Read more Oral Health for Children With Disabilities
Category: Health and Mental Health
Nutrition and Children With Disabilities
What nutritional concerns are common in children with disabilities? Many children with disabilities have health issues that can impact their nutritional well-being and eating habits. This makes meeting your child’s nutritional needs even more important. Some issues that might affect your child include: Slower oral-motor development Larger tongues, smaller teeth, challenges with chewing Food texture… Read more Nutrition and Children With Disabilities
Intellectual Disabilities
What is an intellectual disability? An intellectual disability is a condition that begins before age 18 and significantly limits intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior. Individuals with intellectual disabilities may have challenges with learning, reasoning, problem solving, and/or thinking abstractly and quickly, and may also have additional challenges with everyday social and practical skills. Those born… Read more Intellectual Disabilities
When a Child Is Hospitalized
Talking About Going to the Hospital Whether for a check-up with a pediatrician or an overnight surgery stay, going to the hospital can be a frightening and confusing experience for children of all ages. A difficult thing for many children to understand is why something has to hurt or make them feel badly in order… Read more When a Child Is Hospitalized
Helping Your Child (and Family) Sleep Better
When a child has difficulty with sleep, it impacts the entire family. Sleep is associated with mood, learning, and daytime behavior. If you have a child with a developmental disability who also has difficulty with sleep, you are not alone. What is a sleep disorder? Many parents of children with autism and other developmental disabilities… Read more Helping Your Child (and Family) Sleep Better
Health Care for Adults with Disabilities (for Primary Care Physicians and Nurses)
Why is health care an issue? Adults with intellectual or other developmental disabilities often face barriers to good health care. Many primary care providers do not have much experience treating individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). There may be physical barriers to receiving care, such as examining tables that don’t lower completely for those… Read more Health Care for Adults with Disabilities (for Primary Care Physicians and Nurses)
Going To The Doctor
Going to the doctor is important, because it gives you an opportunity to ask questions about your body and to stay healthy. This tip sheet will explain why people go to the doctor and what to expect before, during, and after a visit. Common reasons for going to the doctor General checkup to stay healthy … Read more Going To The Doctor
Fragile X Syndrome
What is Fragile X syndrome? Fragile X syndrome is the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability. It is caused by a mutation of a gene (FMR1) on the X chromosome responsible for making a protein that plays a role in brain development. When the gene is fully mutated, it becomes inactive and does not… Read more Fragile X Syndrome
Fitness and Children With Disabilities
Why Should Your Child Be Active? The obesity rate for children with disabilities in the United States is 38 percent higher than for children without disabilities. Nutrition is one component to a healthy lifestyle, but exercise also plays a key role. Engaging your child in an active lifestyle will: Burn calories to promote a healthy… Read more Fitness and Children With Disabilities
Down Syndrome
What causes Down syndrome? Individuals with Down syndrome usually have an extra copy of chromosome 21. Although some cases may have a slightly different cause, all cases involve chromosome 21. Down syndrome occurs in about 1 in every 700 to 1,000 births. The chance of giving birth to a baby with Down syndrome increases if… Read more Down Syndrome