Understanding and helping families with neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric special needs.

Children with persistent neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric problems have extensive treatment, care, and community service needs. The child's disabilities can create new responsibilities, emotions, roles, and goals for the family. This article provides a framework for identifying and categorizing children with special needs. In addition, methods for assessing the family's psychoeducational, social, and emotional concerns are presented.