Hardships of Raising Children With Special Health Care Needs (A Commentary)

Providing health care services for youngsters with special health care needs (SHCN) requires understanding of the medical circumstances that impact on the particular youngster, as well as an increased awareness and sensitivity to their particular family setting, and the issues that impact on the child, his/her parents, and siblings. To this end a review was carried out regarding the variable affects on these youngsters, such as poverty, parental, and family issues, as well as considerations of who is at risk for SHCN and demographics of individuals with SHCN who have unmet health needs. The particular need for dental services, the health service most commonly reported as needed, but not received, is highlighted.