The nutrition assessment by the registered dietitian (RD) for the child with special health care needs is similar to that of the typically developing child. However, additional factors must be taken into consideration including the possibility of chronic health problems, multiple long-term drug regimens, and the family and provider needs.
The purpose of this article will be to review the basic components of nutrition assessment with particular attention to those areas that may need extra consideration for the child with special health care needs. Case studies are included to exemplify the principles discussed. These cases reflect that ongoing nutrition follow-up care at periodic intervals is often required for children with special health care needs based on the individual child.