Introduction to Disorders of Childhood

Children are precious; As parents we worry about their health. When our children have issues and crises, these issues and crises affect us just as much, if not more, than it affects them. We fear that which might bring them fear; we hurt when we see them hurt; and sometimes, we cry just seeing them cry. Writer Elizabeth Stone once said "Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." So, when it seems like something is not quite right with your children - perhaps they seem more afraid than other kids, or they seem to get a lot angrier than their playmates do over certain things - this odd or "off" behavior can be experienced as terrifying. In fact, a child's difficulty can be just the starting point for your parental worry and concern. You might not know what to do to help your child, or where to go for help. Possibly, you may worry because you don't even know if your child's problem is somethi...More
Fast Facts: Learn! Fast!
What Childhood Mental Disorders and Illnesses can children be affected by?
- Intellectual disabilities are a specific type of disability that is caused by limited mental capacity (intelligence). These limitations make it difficult for someone to care for themselves without additional support.
- Children that appear to have extremely poor coordination that interferes with achievement or age-appropriate activities of daily living (e.g., walking, playing catch, etc) may be suffering from a Motor Skills Disorder.
- Children or adolescents may be diagnosed with a Learning Disorder when their achievement on standardized tests in reading, mathematics, or written expression is significantly below what is expected for their age, schooling, or level of intelligence.
- Communication Disorders are problems of childhood that affect learning, language, and/or speech.
- A child who demonstrates severe and persistent difficulties in several areas of development (social interactions, language and communication, repetitive and stereotypical behavior) may be affected by a Pervasive Development Disorder.
- Children who have chronic difficulties in maintaining attentional focus, completing work, being impulsive, or repeatedly engage in antisocial behaviors such as lying and cheating may have one or more Attention-Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders. The disorders in this category include Conduct Disorder, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and Oppositional Defiant Disorder.
- Disorders in the "Feeding and Eating Disorders of Infancy or Early Childhood" category include Pica, Rumination Disorder, and Feeding Disorder of Infancy or Early Childhood.
- Elimination disorders (Enuresis and Encopresis) occur when children who are otherwise old enough to eliminate waste appropriately repeatedly void feces or urine in inappropriate places or at inappropriate times.
- Selective Mutism occurs when a child persistently fails to speak in certain social situations where speaking is expected.
- Children and adolescents affected by Separation Anxiety Disorder become severely distressed when separated from their familiar surroundings and caregivers.
- In Reactive Attachment Disorder, children develop abnormal relationships with caregivers that are described, in the language of the DSM criteria for the disorder as either Inhibited or Disinhibited.
- Children with Stereotypic Movement Disorder can't seem to stop themselves from engaging in repetitive, and seeming nonfunctional motor behavior.
- Tic Disorders are diagnosed when people have chronic (i.e., repeated across time) motor and vocal tics that interfere with their daily activities.
Resources
Articles
- Introduction to Disorders of Childhood
- Intellectual Disabilities
- Motor Skills Disorders
- Learning Disorders
- Communication Disorders
- Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders
- ADHD and Disruptive Behavior Disorders
- Disorders of Childhood: Attention-Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders
- Diagnosis of Conduct Disorder
- Treatment of Conduct Disorder
- Treatment of Conduct Disorder Continued
- Introduction to Oppositional Defiant Disorder
- Treatment of Oppositional Defiant Disorder
- Disruptive Behavior Disorder NOS and Recommended Reading for Conduct Disorder / ODD
- Feeding and Elimination Disorders
- Anxiety Disorders
- Reactive Attachment Disorder
- Stereotypic Movement Disorder
- Tic Disorders
- Infancy, Childhood or Adolescence, Not Otherwise Specified
Questions and Answers
Book & Media Reviews
- Assessment of Childhood Disorders
- Bipolar Kids
- Black-eyed Suzie
- Bleeding to Ease the Pain
- Brain-Based Therapy with Children and Adolescents
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Child and Adolescent Psychopathology
- Emotional and Behavioral Problems of Young Children
- Girlhood
- Handbook of Evidence-Based Therapies for Children and Adolescents
- 23 more
- Helping Teens Who Cut
- In the Company of Crazies
- Life As We Know It
- Medicating Children
- Mommy I'm Still in Here
- Parenting a Child Who Has Intense Emotions
- Please Don't Label My Child
- Psychotherapy with Adolescent Girls and Young Women
- Raising a Moody Child
- Raising Blaze
- Raising Generation Rx
- Sex, Therapy, and Kids
- Straight Talk about Psychiatric Medications for Kids
- Suicidal Behavior in Children and Adolescents
- The Anti-Romantic Child
- The Boy Who Loved Too Much
- The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog
- The Eyes of van Gogh
- The Medicated Child
- The Thing About Jellyfish
- Totally Wired
- What Works for Bipolar Kids
- Your Child in the Balance
Links
Videos
- Disruptive Behaviors in Children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder
- New Genetic Tools to Treat Autism and Pediatric Neurological Disorders
- What Is Asperger's?
- Conditions May Mimic ADHD
- Autism Early Intervention
- Minority Children May Miss Autism Diagnosis
- Anxiety and Teen Girls with Lisa Damour, PhD
- Autism and Minorities
- FYI on ADHD Evaluations
- Teaching Grit, Perseverance and Frustration Tolerance to Students with ADHD
- 87 more
- Does my Child Have ADHD?
- The Role of Psychotropic Medication in Children’s Mental Health
- Catching Autism Early
- 5 Signs Your Teenager is Battling Depression
- Identifying and Treating Anxiety in Kids and Teens
- Child Anxiety, It’s Real
- The World of Autism PSA
- Helping Children Cope with Anxiety
- Screening for Depression in Kids
- Learning the Signs of Autism
- What is Autism?
- Understanding Autism
- Recognizing OCD
- Addressing Childhood Anxiety
- Creating the Best Learning Environment for Students with ADHD
- Department of Education Guidance Broadens Understanding of 504 Rights for Kids with ADHD Part II
- Ask The Expert: Neurofeedback Treatment for ADHD
- Talking About Child Mental Health: A Strategic Approach to Communications
- Kids and Depression
- Understanding Bipolar Disorder in Children
- Understanding and Supporting Young Adults with ADHD
- Helping Your Young Adult Become Independent
- Self-Advocacy Tips For Teens With ADHD
- Know the Differences Between Adult and Teen Depression
- The Perils of Adolescence
- ADHD: Signs, Symptoms, Research
- Focus on ADHD
- Autism & Asperger's: What's The Difference?
- Screening for Signs of Autism
- My Child Won't Eat: Diagnosing Pediatric Feeding Disorders
- Pediatrics: Child Eating Disorders - Part 2
- Pediatrics: Child Eating Disorders - Part 1
- Pediatrics: ADHD and Food Allergies
- ADHD Treatment
- ADHD: It's a Family Affair
- Does Your Child Have ADHD?
- ADHD in Children
- Too Scared: Social Anxiety Disorder
- Anorexia Nervosa Video
- Beyond the Data -- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- 10 Common Warning Signs of a Mental Health Condition in Teens and Young Adults
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Adolescent Depression
- Behavioral Activation: Treatment of Adolescent Depression
- NAMI's Ask the Doctor Calls--Dialectical Behavior Therapy
- NAMI Ending the Silence - A mental health awareness program for teens
- Finding Effective Mental Health Treatment for Children
- Treating Childhood OCD
- Treating Youth with Bipolar Disorder
- Treating Tourette Syndrome
- Treating Autism
- Treating Depression in Youth
- Medication Treatment for ADHD
- Using Time Out
- Treating Childhood ADHD
- Treating Youth Anxiety and Social Phobia
- 5 Ways Technology Can Complement Mental Health Services
- What it’s like to have a brother on the autism spectrum
- ADHD-friendly Summer Family FUNdamentals
- Autism Jargon: Pica
- Is Asperger’s Included in the DSM5?
- Overcoming Anxiety in Children and Teens
- How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime
- Back-to-School Anxiety
- How the Diagnosis of Autism Helps Us Learn More About Autism
- Breaking the Silence, Breaking the Cycle Honoring Youth Voices
- A Frontline to ADHD
- Interview: Sleep Disorders: Caryn, Mom of Riley
- Sleep Problems in Kids
- Advice on Telling Your Teen they have ASD
- Understanding Girls with ADHD
- What is ADHD?
- School Anxiety! Activities To Help Kids and Teens Manage It
- Social Intervention Helps Adults With Autism
- Childhood Apraxia of Speech: Information for Parents
- Recognizing and Treating Problematic Fear and Anxiety in Children
- "Crazy" Girl– On Surviving and Thriving with Mental Illness
- Speech and Language Disorders
- Overview of possible causes and types of problems in speech development
- Is It ADHD?
- Autism Signs
- Common Childhood Illnesses & Immunizations
- Managing Anxiety in Youth: More Action Than Talk
- Irritability in Children - How Parents Can Help
- Altering the Course: First Episode Psychosis Intervention
- Psychosis in Youth: Risk Factors and Treatments
- Recent Advances in Anxiety - Children/Adolescents
Topics
Related Topic Centers
Addictions
Aging & Elder Care
Assessments & Interventions
Career & Workplace
Emotional Well-Being
Life Issues
Parenting & Child Care
Abuse
ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Adoption
Autism
Child & Adolescent Development: Overview
Child & Adolescent Development: Puberty
Child Development & Parenting: Early (3-7)
Child Development & Parenting: Infants (0-2)
Child Development & Parenting: Middle (8-11)
Child Development & Parenting:Adolescence (12-24)
Child Development Theory: Adolescence (12-24)
Child Development Theory: Middle Childhood (8-11)
Childhood Mental Disorders and Illnesses
Childhood Special Education
Divorce
Family & Relationship Issues
Intellectual Disabilities
Learning Disorders
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Parenting
Self Esteem
Psychological Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
Bipolar Disorder
Conversion Disorders
Depression: Depression & Related Conditions
Dissociative Disorders
Domestic Violence and Rape
Eating Disorders
Impulse Control Disorders
Intellectual Disabilities
Mental Disorders
Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
Personality Disorders
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Schizophrenia
Sexual Disorders
Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders
Suicide
Tourettes and other Tic Disorders