Early childhood & Adolescence development disorders
Children and adolescents acquire cognitive, emotional and social skills that will determine their future mental health and could precondition them to their future adult roles in the society. Not only the physical development of the child is decisive for his growth. The events that are part of the child’s life in the early years are crucial for the trajectory of development and his life path. The process of growth and acquisition of new skills is a complex determined by the biological development of the brain, influenced by the quality of interaction with the others.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), emotional and behavioural disorders affect 15% of children globally. Emotional and behavioural problems are a common concern of parents. The types of problems often differ by the age of the child and include a wide variety of issues such as conduct problems, aggression, anti-social behaviour, anxiety, depression, and substance use.
ADHD and ASD:
Both Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder are usually diagnosed in childhood, and symptoms are likely to continue throughout the lifespan. They are both neurodevelopmental disorders, but they have different symptoms.
Autism Spectrum Disorder:
- Speech delays, unusual speech patterns, or lack of spoken language
- Difficulty with social communication and social interaction
- Repetitive behaviours such as rocking or pacing
- Sensory challenges (under- or over-reactive to light, sound, taste, smell, touch)
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder:
- Inattention (difficulty focusing and concentrating)
- Impulsivity (likely to blurt out remarks or take inappropriate actions without thinking about them)
Success:
Psychological counselling is meant to treat a mental health condition or help a child manage their symptoms so that they can function well at home, in school, and in their community. When children are young, it is common for therapy to include the parent. Sometimes therapists work with the parents alone. Older children may meet with a therapist alone as well.
Results:
Untreated children and adolescents with behavioural disorders may grow up to be dysfunctional adults. Generally, the earlier the intervention, the better the outcome is likely to be. Our child specialists are here to help you.