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Under Special Circumstances
Sleep Disorders and Bedwetting in Special Needs Children
By Carma Haley Shoemaker
The presence of one sleep disorder often leads to another. For example, night terrors may lead to insomnia or snoring to sleep apnea. Dr. Sheldon states that this is not only possible, but is often the reason for the presence of bedwetting in special needs children. "Children with special needs often suffer from numerous other sleep disorders," he says. "This initial sleep disorder may lead to or cause bedwetting. Whether it is snoring, sleep apnea, sleep walking or night terrors, these sleep disorders can and do lead to enuresis. One example is that a child may wake up from a nightmare, not cry out from fear of upsetting his/her parents and may wet the bed. Or, a child may not be able to get to the bathroom alone, but wanting to be independent and not 'bother' Mom or Dad, try to hold it until morning and end up wetting the bed instead."
While it is common for special needs children to suffer from bedwetting, it is not a problem that is solely theirs. "Enuresis is not unique to or seen only in children with special needs," says Dr. Sheldon. "In the U.S. alone, millions of children – both those with special needs and those without – suffer from bedwetting."
According to Dr. Sheldon, all children, including special needs children, may in fact be genetically predisposed to the condition of bedwetting. "The condition of bewetting is often seen to run in families," he says. "A child who has one parent who also suffered from enuresis has an increased risk of the condition as well – about a 40 to 45 percent chance. If both a child's parents were bedwetters, the child's chance of suffering from enuresis is approximately 75 percent."