Special Health Care Needs

Definition and common nutrition-related concerns

Children with special health care needs are those "who have or are at increased risk for chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional conditions and who require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by children generally." (McPherson et al, 1998).

Children with special health care needs are at increased risk for nutrition-related health problems. Common problems include the following:

• Altered energy and nutrient needs
• Delayed or altered growth patterns
• Feeding delays or oral-motor dysfunction
• Elimination problems
• Medication-nutrient interactions
• Appetite disturbances
• Unusual food habits (e.g., pica, restrictive food choices, rumination)
• Early childhood caries, gum disease