Childhood Disorders

We have come a long way in understanding childhood disorders. Until the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, children often were regarded as little more than property. As long as physical needs were met, parents assumed all was well with their children. Childhood Disorders were generally considered as behavioral problems that would disappear with discipline or as children matured. Today’s parents are apt to be laden with feelings of guilt, frustration, and helplessness when their children are in either physical or emotional pain, but help is available for Childhood Disorders.

Modern medicine finds that Childhood Disorders are relevant problems that don’t disappear with either discipline or maturity. Without treatment, these disorders evolve into adult illnesses that interfere with normal activities throughout an individual’s lifetime. In fact, aside from the disorders that are specific to childhood, many adult disorders have their beginnings in young children and adolescents.

Just as adults do, many children suffer from disorders like Major Depression, Bipolar Disorders, Anxieties, and Phobias. In addition, Developmental Disorders inhibit a child’s growth; some are present at birth and some become apparent as the child grows physically but is unable to achieve average social and academic standards. Finally, some Childhood Disorders, especially Conduct Disorders, become apparent as the child approaches adolescence.

Adult Disorders in Children

Until recently, major depression and bipolar disorders were recognized only as adult illnesses. However, three to six million children in the U.S. are afflicted with these mood disorders. Like adults, children get tired and feel loss. Moreover, children also need help in working out everyday problems that prompt feelings of helplessness and low self-esteem.
All children have certain anxieties about things like “fitting in” with their friends, schoolwork, and being the last to be picked for the team. Also common to children are fears about witches, goblins, the “man in the closet”, and the troll under the bed. However, in the case of an anxiety disorder or true phobia, this fear or worry becomes constant and interferes with the child’s normal activities.

Developmental Disorders

Developmental Disorders include Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) like Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and Rett’s Syndrome, all of which are characterized by delaying the child’s social and communication skills. Other developmental disorders include Learning Disabilities, like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Dyslexia. These types of Childhood Disorders can affect a child’s speech, listening ability, and concentration as well as the academics of reading, writing, and mathematics.

Conduct Disorders

Recently, Conduct Disorders have become regarded as complex illnesses rather than simple behavioral problems are now believed to be the single largest group of psychiatric illnesses in young people. A Conduct Disorder is evident when a child persistently disregards the rules of society and the rights of others. Studies indicate that, like other Childhood Disorders, Conduct Disorders are caused by a combination of factors. Often, they are linked to other disorders like ADHD or Depression or physical problems like epilepsy or a history of facial and head injuries. Like other disorders, Conduct Disorders won’t go away with maturity, but instead grow into long-term problems that interfere with adult abilities to lead a productive life.

It is important to remember that all Childhood Disorders are illnesses that won’t disappear without professional diagnosis and treatment. The articles on these pages are here to help you, as a parent, recognize potential problems and seek evaluation, diagnosis, and appropriate treatment from an experienced child psychiatric professional.