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Wandering, an Unfortunate Reality in Children with Special Needs By Dr. Angela Cristina Rodriguez
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he diagnosis of Autism has increased its prevalence in recent years, and it is our commitment to learn, understand and make our communities safe for all of our children. Many parents can recall moments when they were unable to locate their child, creating a situation of extreme anxiety. Wandering is defined as a dependent person leaving a supervised, safe space for more than a brief period or running away. Wandering is considered developmentally normal for toddlers. However, for parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder who have an impaired sense of danger, this experience may occur more frequently throughout their child’s life. Many of these situations end up in needing medical attention or even a child’s death. According to a study in Pediatrics 2012, 49% of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder have the tendency to wander. Drowning is the leading cause of death in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Accidental drowning accounts for 71% of lethal outcomes, followed by traffic injuries at 18%.
Different authors highlight the dangers of Autism as presented by Paul Lipkin, MD, FAAP at the virtual 2020 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference. The younger the child, the higher risk of injury or death from wandering. As Pediatricians we recommend close monitoring at every health visit and encourage parents to work closely with schools, police, neighbors, local agencies and support groups to ensure our children’s safety in the community.
Available Resources: 1.
2. 3. 4. 5.
AWAARE.org (Autism Wandering Awareness Alerts Response Education) which provides numerous tools to keep a child safe like The Big Red Safety Toolkit iancommunity.org Interactive Autism (IAN) Network Autism Speak’s Safety Project Autism Society of America The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Researchers found evidence proving wandering in children with Autism is not due to careless parenting but is related to the age and severity of the Autism. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the reasons go from “enjoying running and exploring, to escaping an anxious
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situation like a sensory stimulus or pursuing a special interest.” This situation creates stress for families, affecting parent’s ability to rest or and limits the family from enjoying activities away from home.
Six tips to prevent wandering and wandering-related tragedies:
1. Secure your home 2. Use of a locating device in the child 3. Use of an Identification Bracelet 4. Teach your child how to swim and cross the street 5. Alert neighbors 6. Alert First Responders
The best overall strategy is a multidisciplinary approach which includes educating the child about safety and dangers using whatever means of communication. It is important that physicians, caregivers, and school workers collaborate to understand what is causing this behavior in the child and yield solutions or suggestions to ameliorate this situation. At One Source Pediatrics you can find multiple resources to improve your child’s well-being.
⊲ One Source Pediatrics is located at 1625 N Commerce Pkwy Suite 205, Weston FL, 33326. (954) 659-8550.
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