Common special needs for young children

On Behalf of | Nov 30, 2018 | Special Needs Trusts

It is not always immediately clear that a child has special needs, nor do these issues impact all children in exactly the same way. Two children may suffer from the same type of disorder and see vastly different levels of severity, differences in how well these needs can be overcome and different physical or mental changes as they grow older.

That said, it can help to understand what some of the most common issues facing today’s children are. These include:

  • Delayed development
  • Language delays
  • Speech issues
  • Cognitive or mental delays
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Learning differences or challenges
  • Distinct learning disabilities
  • Emotional disorders and trouble handling emotions
  • Social disorders

A large part of the experience for family members, especially when a child is young, is simply changing when parents expect milestones to be met. After all, a delay does not mean there will be no development at all. However, it could feel that way when a 3-year-old almost never talks and all of his or her peers have already been talking well for a year or six months. Parents must be patient and remember that children can still hit these milestones or others of their own. It is simply more of a challenge for them, and that development may never look exactly like that of their peers, or go as far. Again, it differs from case to case.

For parents and grandparents who want to help the child moving forward, a trust may be one way to provide financial assets that the child will need later on in life. Taking the child’s condition into account, the trust can address specific needs and help improve the child’s quality of life.