Learning to drive is a rite of passage for almost all teens. Using a private vehicle to get around can be huge for self-esteem. It can also make life easier. Buses and Ubers are never going to be as comfortable or as stressless as driving to class, to therapy, or to a bestie’s house.
Classes at school or in private instruction rarely know how to accommodate teens with POTS. They need to. They may want to. It isn’t easy or simple. If they don’t, won’t, or can’t, their OTs and their parents should be able to step in and guide the process so that learning isn’t painful or a failure.
I wrote a recent handout pack on teens with dysautonomia and hypermobility: Teens with Hypermobility and Dysautonomia . One of the most important sheets discussed how to navigate driver education.
Here are 3 important takeaways from my handout pack:
- Beware the trees inside the car. Air fresheners can be overwhelming to a driver with dysautonomia. Strong scents are among the most common triggers for POTS symptoms. Those tree-shaped air fresheners can’t be used inches away from a teen’s face while driving.
- Optimize safety. Teens who have sudden episodes of lightheadedness or dizziness may not be safe to learn to drive. They can take classes on a simulator. They can be a passenger and learn many defensive driving strategies. They can learn basic car maintenance. But they can only get behind the wheel of a car when an instructor has the ability to immediately take control. Learning to drive can be the motivation a teen needs to be serious about managing their condition well.
- Timing lessons with optimal medical stability is vital for successful learning. Learning any new skill is easier when rested, hydrated, and calm. Kids with POTS often take medications or wear compression garments to improve orthostatic homeostasis. They need to be behind the wheel during their peak times, not their worst times of day. Weekends are more flexible. If they need private lessons timed to their condition, then that is the right choice.
Need more information to help YOUR teen?
Take a look at my handout pack on the best site to buy all of my handouts and books: Your Therapy Source
