Mental Health Disorders in Young Children

Mental Health Disorders in Young Children

 

INTRODUCTION

            Mental Health disorders in children are, more often than not, ignored. Other times, it is just completely, not talked about openly. Because of the rapid changes in the world today, many young children develop mental illnesses because they find it difficult to cope up with the fast pace the world is taking.

 

I. Most Common Mental Illnesses during Childhood

According to Mental Health ABC, the following are the top 5 disorders children develop:

“1. Anxiety disorders. When the child has experienced severe trauma or sudden and extreme change, the child may exhibit symptoms of anxiety disorders as a result of these changes. Also, stressful events, feelings of fear, hatred, and inadequacy may also trigger this disorder. Phobias may accompany this disorder. If the child has been keeping to himself and has not associated with others, or has been having difficulties keeping up at school, it may be tell-tale signs of this disorder. If so, the child must be attended to immediately. Psychological and sociological treatment is available for this disorder, as well as prescribed medication.

2. Attention-deficit disorder. ADHD or ADD is easily becoming one of the most common disorders in childhood today. Its distinguishing characteristics are constant “hyper-activeness” and inability to concentrate. The child may have difficulty keeping to him when he has this disorder. Most often, the child may have a surge of energy that may make it difficult for him to stay in one place. Another is that the child could lack retention span and have difficulty in concentrating. These are the most common symptoms of ADHD and are proven to disrupt school and family life. Because of this, parents are encouraged to seek help from professionals who can help with the treatment of the child. Medication may also be taken to lessen the effects of this disorder.

3. Autism and development disorders. Autism is often characterized by difficulty in normal functioning and development. The child may exhibit difficulty in reading, writing, speaking and may even have impaired social abilities. The child may also have obsessive and impulsive behaviors such as constant banging of the head on the wall. The child does not have the ability to stop this. Another symptom the child may exhibit is to refuse to be touched; they may even refuse to look at the speaker in the eye. Due to these symptoms, the child may choose to keep to himself and refuse to interact with other people. Psychosocial and behavioral treatments as well as medication are available for these symptoms.

4. Mood Disorders. The child may have difficulty expressing his feelings normally. In result, the child may only choose to exhibit these feelings through destructive and may even choose not to show these feelings at all. In result, the child may be aloof towards society. This disorder is said to be caused by sudden changes wherein the child did not have enough time to comprehend the things that happened. And because of the child’s constant change in mood, he may have difficulty keeping up with school and even function normally at home. medication as well as counseling are available to treat this disorder.

5. Depression disorder. It is in a way similar to mood disorders but is often associated with feelings of grief and depression. Tragedies and disasters may cause this disorder. When a child does not have enough ability to cope up with these events, he may chose to keep to himself and withdraw from society. Performance in school and at home and other social settings may suffer due to this recoil instinct of the child. Treatments such as counseling may be able to remedy the damage.

I.A. Conceptualization, Diagnosis and Treatment

            In forming Diagnosing and treating a certain mental disorder, one must first go through the process of conceptualizing the illness. Let us take for example ADHD and autism.

            What is ADHD?? ADHD a disorder in which a child has the incapability to concentrate on a task. Lack of the ability of retention and hyper-activity are also key identifying symptoms of this illness.

            According to  “Diagnosing ADHD is not easy. There is no single test that reveals the presence of the disorder. A physician will perform a complete physical examination and compile a thorough medical history. The physician may use questionnaires or interviews with parents, teachers, babysitters, coaches and others who may describe behaviors typically associated with ADHD. Teachers in particular may be asked to record their observations on standard evaluation forms called behavior rating scales. These forms take advantage of a teacher’s experience working with various children by asking the teacher to compare the child’s behavior to others of the same age group. The physician will look for behaviors that have a long history, and will note when they occur.

Questions that may be asked by the physician include:

• At what age did the child first begin displaying symptoms of potential ADHD?


• Do problems tend to appear periodically or are they chronic?


• Does the child struggle academically?


• Does the child have trouble maintaining relationships?


• Are there other problems or symptoms that may be apparent?

Standardized testing also may be used to evaluate a child’s mental health status, intelligence level, learning abilities and social adjustment.

Before diagnosing ADHD, the physician will rule out other potential causes of symptoms. Sleep disorders such as sleep apnea (temporary cessation of breathing during sleep) are frequently the cause of inattention in children. Other disorders that cause symptoms similar to ADHD include hyperthyroidism (excessive production of thyroid hormone), seizure disorders, and vision or hearing problems. Sudden life changes (such as the death of a loved one) can also cause emotional disruption in children that may appear similar to ADHD.

A diagnosis of ADHD is often made in concert with other health professionals such as psychiatrists, developmental and behavioral pediatricians, and behavioral neurologists. Patients should exhibit six or more symptoms in at least one of two categories that persist for more than 6 months and which are not consistent or in line with the patient’s level of development.

Regarding inattention, the symptoms include:

• Has trouble in mincing small details or makes mistakes in other activities due to carelessness.


• Cannot remain focused on activities like playing.


• Doesn’t seem to be listening when addressed directly..


• Has difficulty in accomplishing tasks assigned like schoolwork, home duties and other such tasks.


• This cannot be the result of oppositional behavior or a failure to understand directions.


• Finds the organization of tasks difficult.


• Tries, as much as possible, to evade tasks that need great mental concentration.


• Often times lose necessary items to complete a task such as pencils or toys.


• Attention is easily diverted to external Stimuli.


• Is often oblivious to activities of daily basis.

Regarding hyperactivity and impulsivity, the symptoms include:

• Cannot stay put when seated.


• Moves from his seat when told to remain seated.


• Runs or climbs excessively when the situation is uncalled for.


• Cannot seem to do activities such as playing silently.


• Likely on the verge of moving about, due to the surge of energy.


• Most likely is very chatty.


• Utters the answer when the question is finished.


• Has difficulty waiting turn.


• Invades others privacy.

These symptoms should be found before the child reaches the age of 7, and the impairment should be found in two or more settings. “ (Source-iVillage Inc., 200-2007)

            According to  treatments for ADHD include a whole range of fields such as the social and psychological aspects. They often are treatments which deal with the patient, in other times with the parents or other adults who interact with the child. Treatments may provide information and guides on how to handle the child with the disorder. Food that triggers the child’s hyperactivity, as observed by parents, is suppressed through dieting.

Medication

One of the few effective treatments to help lessen the effects of ADHD is medication but only when adopted as part of a “comprehensive treatment plan”. A ‘comprehensive treatment plan’ includes psychological, educational and social measures. This may also solicit the help of parents and teachers who are expected to help and support the child. Psychological treatment may also take part but isn’t really needed.”

Now let’s take into perspective autism. Autism is a disorder in which a patient’s social and developmental abilities are impaired. More often than not, autistic children have difficulty communicating and interacting with people around them. (source- The National Autistic Society, http://www.mini-smiles.org/fundraising.html)

They also have this behaviour that they cannot stop doing something when they are thoroughly fixated by it. Take for example Laura (not real name). She has difficulty washing the dishes. Why? When she starts soaping the dishes, she gets fixated on the rainbow colors the bubbles reflect. And she cannot stop doing that unless all the bubbles have been popped. She just stays there and stares at the bubbles.

                How is Autism diagnosed? According to  from the page of About: Autism Spectrum Disorders, “Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) should be diagnosed by a medical professional with support from physical, occupational and speech therapists. To qualify for a diagnosis, a person must have a total of six or more items from (1), (2), and (3), with at least two from (1) and one each from (2) and (3):

1. Qualitative impairment in social interaction, manifest by at least two of the

following:

• A. Marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors, such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures and gestures, to regulate social interaction


• B. Failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level


• C. Lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people (e.g., by lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest)


• D. Lack of social or emotional reciprocity

Qualitative impairment in communication, as manifest by at least one of the following:

• A. Delay in, or total lack of, the development of spoken language (not accompanied by an attempt to compensate through alternative modes of communication such as gesture or mime)


• B. In individuals with adequate speech, marked impairment in the ability to initiate or sustain a conversation with others


• C. Stereotyped and repetitive use of language, or idiosyncratic language


• D. Lack of varied, spontaneous make-believe, or social imitative play appropriate to developmental level

3. Restrictive repetitive and stereotypic patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:

• A. Encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus


• B. Apparently inflexible adherence to specific nonfunctional routines or rituals


• C. Stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g., hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)


• D. Persistent preoccupation with parts of objects.

Delays or abnormal functioning in at least one of the following areas, with onset prior to age 3 years:

• 1. Social interaction


• 2. Language as used in social communication


• 3. Symbolic or imaginative play”

Treatment of Autism. According to Autism cannot be cured. The treatment applied can only bring about improvement but not totally cure the person. The treatment plan for the patient should hit the core symptoms of autism: problems with communication and interaction with other people. ()

II. Childhood Disorder’s Effect on Normal Communication

            As in the facts and examples presented above, one can conclude that, yes, mental health disorders in childhood do affect normal communication. Children who have such disorders tend to turn away from society or even do not have the capability to connect with society. Children with autism choose not come in contact with other people. They tend to stay with themselves and not socialize with other people. They hardly communicate. Because of that, they tend to shun away school life and other social life, thus, retarding their chances of developing properly.

III. Literature Review

            In the literature that I have read, I do not think pathology was ever insinuated. It all focused on the retarded development of children with mental disorders and the treatments that are recommended. It also made mention of the treatments that included psychological, psychosocial, and behavioral aspects that may greatly help in the suppression of the symptoms present.

 

 

 

 

 

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