Growing Up With a Physical Difference

Although childhood is supposed to be a time of well-being, many of our nation's children have significant, continuing physical health problems that make them distinctly different from their healthy peers As a result, these children face special challenges as they grow up This article explores the implications of growmg up with a physical difference by focusing on four issues Why are physical differences important? To what extent can we appropriately generalize across diagnoses? What are the developmental and familial consequences of chronic health impairments? What can be done to improve the situation? The author discusses developments contributing to a heightened concern for these children and reviews objective data underlymg a noncategorial approach to childhood chronic illness Attention is paid to the consequences of a chronic illness for the child, the family, and the school--and how health care providers can minimize the negative consequences As a whole, the evidence indicates that chronically ill ch...