LITALICO Development Navi Introduces Heatstroke Risks for Children with Developmental Disabilities and Home-Based Countermeasures

LITALICO Inc. (Headquarters: Meguro-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Atsuya Hasegawa), which operates the developmental support portal site "LITALICO Development Navi," will introduce information and countermeasures regarding "heatstroke risks" for children with developmental disabilities (such as ASD/Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD/Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) as the full summer approaches with July beginning tomorrow, and will issue a warning.

Children with developmental disabilities often find that general heatstroke countermeasures, such as hydration and adjusting clothing, are ineffective due to characteristics like sensory biases (blunting/hypersensitivity) and fixations. This release will present "heatstroke risks" commonly observed in children with developmental disabilities, as revealed through case studies from families of affected individuals shared on the site, along with expert explanations and countermeasures from a physician.

General Heatstroke Countermeasures Ineffective? The "Invisible Risks" of Developmental Disabilities

With July beginning tomorrow and the height of summer just around the corner, heatstroke prevention measures are being called for nationwide. However, in households with children with developmental disabilities (such as ASD/Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD/Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), the problem arises that "general heatstroke countermeasures are difficult to implement due to the child's characteristics and fixations, making support challenging."

This time, we will introduce four often-overlooked heatstroke risks based on real-life cases from parents shared on the "LITALICO Development Navi" community and columns.

Four Major Summer Cases Seen on "LITALICO Development Navi" - Sensory Blunting, Hypersensitivity, Fixations -- Concerns such as "Not feeling thirsty," "Refusing to drink," "Not complaining of feeling unwell," and "Difficulty dressing appropriately for the weather" --

1. Inability to notice "thirst" (Sensory Blunting)

This is a case where individuals do not experience the sensation of "thirst" (interoception) even on hot summer days with rapidly rising temperatures, and therefore do not voluntarily hydrate. Even if they understand the dangers of heatstroke intellectually, they cannot recognize their own body's signals, leading to concerns about them continuing to sweat profusely unless prompted by others.

Related Column

My son with developmental disabilities, who doesn't realize he's thirsty due to sensory blunting... What surprising changes occurred that worried me about heatstroke!?

https://h-navi.jp/column/article/35029673

2. Refusal of Hydration and Conflict with "Fixations"

There are voices expressing conflict between fixations and risks, such as, "He dislikes water and only drinks juice or soup for hydration. When I tried to limit him to just water for his health, he wouldn't drink a drop until night and became dehydrated/suffered heatstroke." There are also cases where fixations on routines, like "only drinking at this specific time," have an impact.

Related Q&A

My son is 3 years old and has autism. He started disliking water around last year...

https://h-navi.jp/qa/questions/168995

3. Not communicating (or being unable to communicate) signs of feeling unwell to others

While they may strongly express desires like "I want to do this" or "I want that," they do not communicate signs of feeling unwell such as "my stomach hurts" or "I feel sluggish." This can be due to a blunting of their awareness of their own physical changes, and there are cases where individuals have deteriorated to the point of needing an IV drip by the time their guardians noticed.

Related Column

Heatstroke incident with my ADHD son who has sensory hypersensitivity! He's sensitive to pain, but extremely insensitive to heat and cold!?

https://h-navi.jp/column/article/35027341

4. Attachment to long-sleeved clothing/favorite clothes in summer (Sensory Hypersensitivity/Fixations)

Due to variations in sensory perception or a sense of security from specific clothing, there are cases where children "insist on wearing only long-sleeved or favorite clothes even in midsummer." Concerns are seen regarding the risk of overheating (body heat accumulation) due to out-of-season clothing, and the balance between fixations and panic.

Related Column

[Sensory Blunting/Hypersensitivity] Long sleeves in midsummer, enraged by unexpected touch! How to support the unique sensory world of my 3rd-grade ASD son

https://h-navi.jp/column/article/35031107

Reader Testimonials

[Autism/Preschooler] "I won't wear anything but long sleeves!" Panic during dressing for an hour. The unexpected sensory reason behind the "fixation" that defied all previous common sense [Reader Testimonial]

https://h-navi.jp/column/article/35030946

[Explanation and Advice from Pediatrician Akiko Fujii]

In response to these risks, Akiko Fujii, Director of Donguri Developmental Clinic, who specializes in child development and health, provided advice from a professional perspective.

Measures considering difficulty noticing bodily signals, sensory hypersensitivity, and hyperfocus

I feel that general heatstroke countermeasures may not be sufficient for children with developmental disabilities. Some children with ASD or ADHD may have difficulty noticing bodily signals such as "it's hot," "I'm thirsty," or "I'm tired." Furthermore, due to sensory characteristics such as fixations on the taste or temperature of water in a thermos, or aversion to hats and cooling items, they may be reluctant to accept the countermeasures recommended by those around them.

Additionally, when engrossed in their favorite play or activities, they often postpone hydration and breaks. Moreover, differences in autonomic nervous system function have been pointed out in children with developmental disabilities, and it is reported that this may affect thermoregulation and adaptation to heat.

Therefore, instead of waiting until "they feel thirsty to drink," it is important for adults to encourage hydration at set times and provide concrete cues for break times. It is advisable to create an environment that suits the child's characteristics and for adults around them to consider heatstroke countermeasures together.

Support and Countermeasures that Parents and Surrounding Adults Can Provide

The most crucial aspect of countermeasures is for adults to proactively create a "system" rather than relying solely on the individual's self-reporting (e.g., "I'm okay," "I'm not thirsty").

Visualization of Fluids and Reminders, etc.

Encourage hydration by establishing rules, such as setting a timer every hour, using a bottle with markings for visual cues, or having them finish their water bottle during school hours. If they dislike water, it is effective to devise ways to offer it in forms they find acceptable, such as shaved ice (without syrup) or jelly.

Approach to Clothing

If they have a fixation on long sleeves, do not force them to wear short sleeves. Instead, choose long-sleeved items made of "cool-touch material" or "highly breathable mesh material" that they find comfortable, balancing their sense of security with coolness. It is also effective for adults to pre-select "clothes appropriate for the season" and place them in the closet, adjusting the choices available.

Observation of Objective Signs

For children who cannot communicate how they feel, adults should routinely check their condition using objective indicators such as "sweat on the forehead," "redness of the face," and "frequency and color of urination."

By correctly understanding the characteristics of heat insensitivity and difficulty with thermoregulation, and by creating a "safe system" without blame, we can help protect the lives and health of children.

Deepen Understanding of Characteristics for a Summer Where All Children Can Feel Safe

"LITALICO Development Navi" will continue to provide valuable information to help children live safely and securely, by staying attuned to the real-life challenges faced by affected families and collaborating with experts.

As the full summer approaches, we hope this information will serve as a hint for adults around children to deepen their understanding of "heatstroke risks due to characteristics" that are often overlooked by general countermeasures, and to find "manageable countermeasures" suitable for each household.

[Profile of Dr. Akiko Fujii]

Pediatric Specialist / Pediatric Neurologist / Epileptologist / Child Mental Health Specialist / Director of Donguri Developmental Clinic

Graduated from the Graduate School of Tokyo Women's Medical University. Trained at Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital and Nagasaki Prefectural Child Medical Welfare Center, and became Director of Sakura Kids Clinic in 2019. Since 2024, she has served as Director of Donguri Developmental Clinic and Chief Physician of the Developmental Department of Ikushinkai. She provides medical care that respects the individuality of children while also supporting parents' parenting concerns. She is raising three children.

[About LITALICO Development Navi]

"LITALICO Development Navi," which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in January 2026, has been disseminating information on basic knowledge of developmental disabilities and creating a community space for users through its diary (blog) and Q&A functions. It is a portal site for parents of children with developmental concerns, as well as for supporters and affected individuals.

https://h-navi.jp/

LITALICO Development Navi will continue to evolve its services to support the positive steps of parents concerned about their children's development.

[About LITALICO Inc.]

LITALICO, with the vision of "Creating a society free from disabilities," provides various services in the disability field, centered around its internet platforms: the developmental disability portal site "LITALICO Development Navi" and the job information site for people with disabilities "LITALICO Job Navi." In addition to employment support services for affected individuals, "LITALICO Works," and social skills & learning classes "LITALICO Junior," the company offers life planning services for families of children with disabilities, "LITALICO Life," and operational support services for welfare facilities contributing to the overall quality improvement of the industry.

In the general education field, it also operates IT & manufacturing classes "LITALICO Wonder" and provides ICT services "LITALICO Education Software" that support special needs education in schools.

It was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers in March 2016, changed to the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in March 2017, and moved to the Prime Market in April 2022. For details, please visit https://litalico.co.jp/.