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.
News Articles
Could Air Pollution Help Trigger Depression in Teens?
Even "safe" levels of ozone air pollution may increase adolescents' risk of depression, a new study shows. More...
Mental Health of America's Children Only Getting Worse
A fresh review of recent government surveys suggests the well-being of 73 million American kids is under strain and seems to be getting worse. More...
Odds for Mental Illness Rise in Kids After Concussion
Kids who've suffered a concussion are at heightened risk of mental health issues in the aftermath, a large new study suggests. More...
Is Pandemic Social Media Use Worsening Tic Disorders in Teens?
For reasons that remain murky, new research warns that a spike in social media use during the pandemic might have worsened tic disorders in children. More...
Signs of Autism Differ in Brains of Boys, Girls
Researchers have discovered differences between the brains of girls and boys with autism that they say may improve diagnosis of the developmental disorder in girls. More...
13 MoreU.S. Teens Were Already in Mental Health Crisis Before Pandemic Hit
"We're seeing a lot of depression and anxiety, self-harm, and a lot of sort of similar kinds of things," Janis Whitlock, a senior advisor for The Jed Foundation, told HealthDay Now. More...
US Surgeon General Report Warns of Mental Health Crisis Hitting Youth
The pandemic has intensified mental health struggles that were already widespread among American teens, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy warned Tuesday. More...
1 in 3 College Freshmen Has Depression, Anxiety
Starting college can be a time of fun, new experiences and growth. Yet it can also be a rough transition for many students who struggle with mental health issues. More...
Screening School Kids for Depression Boosts Diagnoses, Outcomes
Schools could provide solutions for kids who are grappling with depression, a new study suggests. More...
Discrimination Takes Toll on Mental Health of Young Adults
Young adults who face discrimination about their bodies, race, age or sex are at increased risk for mental health issues, researchers report. More...
'6 Stages' Approach Might Help Families Coping With ADHD
Researchers have created a six-stage process to help families of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) deal with the disorder. More...
U.S. Pediatricians, Psychiatrists Declare 'Emergency' in Child Mental Health
Fear, grief, uncertainty and isolation during the pandemic have triggered a national state of emergency in the mental health of America's youth, leading child health care groups warned Tuesday. More...
Most Kids Newly Diagnosed With ADHD Aren't Getting Best Care
Preschoolers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) rarely receive the gold-standard treatment recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for their condition, a new study reports. More...
Neighborhood Gun Violence Means Worse Mental Health for Kids
Living within a few blocks of a shooting increases the risk that a child will end up visiting the emergency department for mental health-related problems, researchers say. More...
It's a Win-Win When a Child With Autism Gets a Shelter Cat
Parents of a child with autism might wonder if a pet cat would be a good fit for the family. Now, research suggests both children with autism and cats benefit when a feline joins the household. More...
Only 1 in 10 Kids With ADHD Will Outgrow It
Only about one in 10 kids with the disorder are likely to have a full and lasting remission of their symptoms, according to new data gleaned from tracking hundreds of kids for 16 years. More...
Telehealth: Tips for Helping Kids With Autism Take Part
Telehealth is increasing in popularity in the United States, partly due to the pandemic. But some children with autism have difficulty sitting through these virtual appointments. More...
Guideline Changes Have Asperger's Community on Edge
Change in psychiatric manual will fold it into autism spectrum disorders, leaving many unsure about getting needed services More...
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
News
- Could Air Pollution Help Trigger Depression in Teens?
- Mental Health of America's Children Only Getting Worse
- Odds for Mental Illness Rise in Kids After Concussion
- Is Pandemic Social Media Use Worsening Tic Disorders in Teens?
- Signs of Autism Differ in Brains of Boys, Girls
- U.S. Teens Were Already in Mental Health Crisis Before Pandemic Hit
- US Surgeon General Report Warns of Mental Health Crisis Hitting Youth
- 1 in 3 College Freshmen Has Depression, Anxiety
- Screening School Kids for Depression Boosts Diagnoses, Outcomes
- Discrimination Takes Toll on Mental Health of Young Adults
- 8 more
- '6 Stages' Approach Might Help Families Coping With ADHD
- U.S. Pediatricians, Psychiatrists Declare 'Emergency' in Child Mental Health
- Most Kids Newly Diagnosed With ADHD Aren't Getting Best Care
- Neighborhood Gun Violence Means Worse Mental Health for Kids
- It's a Win-Win When a Child With Autism Gets a Shelter Cat
- Only 1 in 10 Kids With ADHD Will Outgrow It
- Telehealth: Tips for Helping Kids With Autism Take Part
- Guideline Changes Have Asperger's Community on Edge
Links
Videos
- Disruptive Behaviors in Children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder
- New Genetic Tools to Treat Autism and Pediatric Neurological Disorders
- Homework, Organization, and Time Management Strategies to Help Kids with ADHD
- 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
- 75 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
- The World of Autism PSA
- Learning the Signs of Autism
- 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 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: It's a Family Affair
- Does Your Child Have ADHD?
- ADHD in Children
- Too Scared: Social Anxiety Disorder
- 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 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
- 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
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
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