The University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry has adopted the Council on Clinical Affairs1 definition for Special Needs patients which are patients who present with any physical, developmental, mental, sensory, behavioral, cognitive, or emotional impairment or limiting condition that requires medical management, health care intervention, and/or use of specialized services or programs. The condition may be congenital, developmental, or acquired through disease, trauma, or environmental causes that may impose limitations in performing daily self-maintenance activities or substantial limitations in a major life activity.
Health care for individuals with special needs requires specialized knowledge, increased awareness and attention, adaptation, and accommodative measures beyond what are considered routine.
Examples include but are not limited to:
Developmental Disabilities Examples: Patients with Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Down Syndrome
Physical Disability Examples: Patients who require assistance with mobility (wheelchair, walker, cane) hearing impaired, and the blind.
Cognitive Impairment Examples: Patients suffering from dementia, Alzheimer’s, or low IQ.
Complex Medical Problems Examples: HIV positive (RW patients), history of stroke, history of cancer, history of heart attack, mental illness, diabetes, multiple pharmaceuticals
Vulnerable Elderly Examples: Elderly in need of a caregiver, or living in a long-term care facility.
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American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Council on Clinical affairs revised 2016
