It's a lot easier now for parents to find the right prosthetic for their child because science and medicine has progressed so much over the years. However, it still can be a difficult process to find the right one and adapt to a changing lifestyle.
These wonders of science can include anything from braces, inserts, artificial limbs, and other medical equipment replacements.
Children tend to adapt to a prosthetic incredibly better than adults do in most cases. However, a child's view of him or herself changes over time, especially with the onset of adolescence. The issues that a child or parent faces, are not always the same; despite that, both parent and child will experience physical, social and emotional challenges along the way.
There are several key things to remember when tending to a child who has or is in need of a prosthetic:
1) Not all limb differences are the same. The child may have been born without a limb or has lost one due to injury or disease. Some cases have aspects of both when a child has a congenital limb difference, then has surgery later in life to modify the residual limb.
2) Attitude counts. And we don't just mean the child's attitude, but the parents' also! Children pick up their parents' demeanor, attitudes, reactions, etc. If you accept the limb difference, your child is likely to do as well. Your attitude comes across in the way you talk to your child or talk about your child.
3) Infants and young children. If you have a young child with a lower-limb difference, it's better for them to wear the prosthetic because it helps them get to a standing position to find and explore.
4) Teens. Because teenagers are exposed to many more social challenges, they often want to avoid looking different than their peers. They may want to dress to "hide" a limb difference or avoid physical education activities such as swimming. At this age, parents can be a bit more lenient and give the partial decision-making responsibility to the teen as to whether he or she should wear the prosthetic.
5) How often should I get my child a new prosthetic? There haven't been a lot of detailed attention to this question, however, one study done at the University of Illinois suggested that children should receive a new lower-limb annually up until the age of 5, every 2 years from ages 5 to 12, then every 3-4 years to the age of 21.
6) Parents get blamed. Prepare yourself because this will happen. Every parent knows the emotional drama a child goes through in life like a roller coaster. Your child will want to know why you didn't make them learn how to do something that so many others know how to do. On the other hand, you may get blamed for being too hard on them. Be aware that this blame will likely happen once a child gets older.
7) Be a role model. Your attitude, words, actions, personalities are all picked up by your child. If you speak negatively about a limb difference, how do you think the child will feel and act? Children are very good at observing and will understand what you say or do.
Keep in mind that the challenges we encounter throughout our life molds us into the human being we become. Though a child will encounter life's challenges with a prosthetic, the number one thing is to get the child back to living life as normal as can be without losing a step!
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