Parenting very young children can be stressful, especially if it’s your first time. Every sniffle, cough, and fever can have you frantically wondering if your child needs to see a doctor as soon as possible. Medical problems, unfortunately, aren’t the only health issues that can plague infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. There are many psychiatric disorders that can develop in early childhood as well.
So how do you know if your child needs to see a psychologist, or other mental health professional? Do you listen to your Great Aunt Martha, who’s pushing 80? After all, she raised seven kids of her own, so she must know everything. Do you take the latest quiz in your parenting magazine to see if little Suzie is developing normally? Or do you trust your instincts when something about your child seems off?
While it can be helpful to consult with other parents or family members, regarding your child’s behavior or development, ultimately you know your child best. If you’ve been noticing things that seem unusual, or just have that gut feeling that something is wrong, don’t ignore it. When children display signs suggesting a possible mental health issue, the sooner it is diagnosed and treated, the better the overall prognosis.
Early Childhood Disorders
There are many psychiatric disorders that can develop as early as infancy, or by five years of age. While some are rarer than others, it’s important to be familiar with the types of disorders that could affect your little one. These include:
- Pervasive developmental disorders, such as autism
- Anxiety disorders, such as separation anxiety disorder and PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder). PTSD is the result of significant trauma, such as physical or sexual abuse, or witnessing a traumatic event
- Elimination disorders, such as enuresis (bedwetting)
- Eating disorders, such as pica (eating or craving non-food items, such as dirt or chalk)
- Mood disorders, such as depression or bipolar disorder
- ADHD / ADD and disruptive behavior disorders
- Reactive attachment disorder (inability to form an emotional bond with primary caregivers)
- Tic disorders (these involve involuntary twitches, movements, or sounds), such as Tourette’s syndrome
- Schizophrenia (a psychotic disorder that usually occurs in late adolescence or early adulthood, but has been diagnosed in very young children)
In many cases, a child may be diagnosed with more than one disorder.
Signs and Symptoms
Following is a list of different things that may indicate the presence of a psychological disorder in your child:
Signs and Symptoms
Following is a list of different things that may indicate the presence of a psychological disorder in your child:
- Problems with sleep
- Frequent nightmares or night terrors
- Unusual or bizarre behaviors
- Intense or unusual fearfulness
- Clinginess
- Easily startled
- Regressed behavior (reverting back to behavior from an earlier age)
- Problems with attention or learning
- Delays in language development or speech (or other milestones, such as walking, talking, toilet training)
- Frequent anger outbursts or temper tantrums
- Unusually aggressive behavior
- Lack of appropriate emotional response
- Bedwetting
- Social withdrawal
- Hyperactivity
- Hearing voices or talking to people who aren’t there
- Seeing things that aren’t there
- Frequent complaints of stomach aches or other physical complaints (particularly when a medical cause is ruled out)
- Sexualized behaviors
- Frequent irritability
- Repetitive behaviors
Keep in mind that every disorder has a unique combination of potential signs and symptoms. A child with depression, for example, is going to exhibit very different symptoms than a child with ADHD. Also, some of the symptoms on this list could be situational (for example, a child that is sick may be quite irritable until he feels better). However, most of them are strong indicators that something more serious is going on.
Some early childhood disorders will get better or resolve with the appropriate treatment. Other disorders, however, last a lifetime. Regardless, the first step is a thorough evaluation by a child psychologist, child psychiatrist, or other qualified mental health professional that specializes in working with young children. Once a diagnosis is determined, you can decide the best treatment options for your child and develop a plan to give him, or her, the brightest future possible
