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Few problems are more distressing for parents than a child
with a possible developmental or psychological disorder. Caring for
a child who displays significant behavioural or emotional
symptoms puts families under extreme pressure and makes
parenting considerably difficult. When unnoticed, children
with significant emotional, cognitive or behavioural
difficulties can also experience added stress from others
and their condition can deteriorate. Because
childhood disorders vary considerably, accurate diagnostic
assessment is the first step towards developing a treatment
plan and implementing suitable strategies.
On the
following pages we collected a wealth of information that may be
useful for parents with children experiencing behavioural
or psychological problems. For information about intellectual
and educational assessment, please follow the link here .
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Intellectual disability
Intellectual disability
refers to a condition associated with a number of cognitive
and behavioural symptoms. These symptoms include significantly
subaverage general intellectual functioning, notable deficit
in adaptive functioning and early onset during the
developmental years.
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Learning disability
Learning disability
refers to disturbance to the learning process
and poor academic performance that
is not influenced by cognitive ability,
physical disability, emotional difficulties, severe
socioeconomic disadvantage or other relevant factors.
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Developmental delay
Developmental delay refers to a child's functioning
that is below the age appropriate level in one or
more psychologically important domains. These domains are
fine motor skills, gross motor skills, self-help skills,
social-emotional skills, receptive language skills and
expressive language skills.
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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD)
Children with ADHD show developmentally inappropriate
inattention, impulsivity and overactivity. These
behaviours are not situationally bound and occur in
different contexts, such as home, playgrounds, school and
public places. Symptoms usually present from an early age,
before 7 years. |
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Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
Autism Spectrum
Disorders (ASD) are pervasive developmental
disorders, including childhood Autism and Asperger's
Syndrome and Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified
(PDD-NOS). These conditions are associated with gross
impairment in social functioning, restricted, repetitive or
stereotyped interests and activities and stereotyped body
movements. Apart from the above symptoms, Autism also includes
gross impairments in communication and language
development. |
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Behavioural disorders
Behavioural or externalising
disorders include Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct
Disorder. Generally behavioural disorders are characterised by
hostile and negativistic behaviour, anger, rule breaking,
deceit and lack of respect for the right of
others. |
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Emotional disorders and trauma
Children with emotional
disorders can appear chronically fatigued, unhappy,
frightened, worried or agitated. Most often emotional
disorders go unnoticed by parents or teachers and
children can be also reluctant or unable to talk
about difficult
emotions. |
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