Behavioral Issues Children naturally explore surroundings and test limits. However, certain behaviors indicate that children may develop behavior problems. Children should not want to engage in self-destructive practices or repeatedly threaten themselves, others or pets. Although experimenting with toys and household objects is developmentally appropriate, aggressively destroying objects may indicate a behavioral issue. Other triggers include frequent lying, stealing, and long and severe tantrums beyond the terrible 2's. In older children, preteens and teenagers, issues such as skipping school, smoking, drinking, drug use, sexual activity and defiance to adults indicate behavioral problems.
All kids misbehave some times, but behavior disorders go beyond mischief and rebellion. With behavior disorders, your child or teen has a pattern of hostile, aggressive or disruptive behaviors for more than 6 months.
Warning signs can include
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Warning signs can include
- Harming or threatening themselves, other people or pets
- Damaging or destroying property
- Lying or stealing
- Not doing well in school, skipping school
- Early smoking, drinking or drug use
- Early sexual activity
- Frequent tantrums and arguments
- Consistent hostility towards authority figures
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Conduct Disorder Children diagnosed with conduct disorder have great difficulty following rules and behaving in a socially acceptable way. Your child may threaten, hit people, use inappropriate language, lie, steal, or damage property without any sign of remorse. Your gut tells you that your child has a serious problem that will not go away on its own. The last thing you want is for your child to become involved with the judicial system. Being the caring parent that you are, you have tried everything, from ignoring your child to spanking him. However, you’re running out of strategies, and hopelessness is starting to sink in.
Physical Signs Certain physical signs may indicate that your child can develop behavioral problems. For example, gone untreated, hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism affects children's ability to concentrate. Likewise, food allergies, especially intolerance to sugar, can make children hyperactive and, paired with other factors, can result in a diagnosis of attention deficit disorder. Iron deficiency can result in poor recall skills and general low school performance.
TEENAGE CONDUCT DISORDER Teenagers with conduct disorder consistently display behavior that violates the rights of other people and shows disregard for social rules, according to Mental Health America. Bullying, threats to other people, fighting and using weapons are commons symptoms of conduct disorder. Teenagers may also destroy or vandalize property, lie persistently and shoplift. A complete disregard for rules, such as skipping school and running away from home, is another common sign of conduct disorder. Teenagers with the disorder tend not to show any remorse for their actions.
Biological Causes In some instances, conduct disorder is caused by an imbalance of neurotransmitters in a teenager's brain. The imbalance can occur if the teenager suffers a brain injury or a birth defect. Conduct disorder may also be connected to other mental illnesses, such as depression, ADHD or anxiety, according to WebMD. The disease may also have a genetic cause and may be inherited from from a parent who suffers from another mental disorder, such as depression or a personality disorder.
Treatment Treating a child with conduct disorder can prove difficult, particularly if the child or his parents resist the treatment. A lot of teenagers with the disorder may have a distrust of adults, which can make it hard for a therapist to diagnose and assess the condition. If a teenager does agree to work with a therapist, he may undergo cognitive behavior therapy, which will help him learn to cope and respond to certain situations properly. Some teenagers and their parents may need family therapy, which will help improve familial communications. Parents themselves can undergo therapy to learn how to manage and control their teenager's behavior.
Risks While many teenagers with conduct disorder grow up to become productive adults, according to Mental Health America, those who do not receive treatment or do not recuperate may be at risk for developing other personality and mood disorders as adults. Untreated teenagers may become more dependent on drugs or alcohol as adults. The behaviors associated with conduct disorder also put a teenager at risk if no one steps in. Violent actions can lead to serious injuries or legal problems. Risky sexual behavior can lead to disease or an unwanted pregnancy.
Risks While many teenagers with conduct disorder grow up to become productive adults, according to Mental Health America, those who do not receive treatment or do not recuperate may be at risk for developing other personality and mood disorders as adults. Untreated teenagers may become more dependent on drugs or alcohol as adults. The behaviors associated with conduct disorder also put a teenager at risk if no one steps in. Violent actions can lead to serious injuries or legal problems. Risky sexual behavior can lead to disease or an unwanted pregnancy.
Getting help where to turn who will listen!!!
Toddler Conduct Disorder
Toddler conduct disorder is an umbrella term used to describe a spectrum of behaviors. Before attaching it to your toddler's behavior, however, you should distinguish between normal developmental behaviors, such as short tantrums or responding with "no" to your requests, and deeper, more harmful misbehavior that show the warning signs of a conduct disorder.
Identification Several warning signs can help parents, caregivers, social service workers and therapists identify a toddler conduct disorder. Toddlers with this behavioral problem often show little regard for the health and happiness of others, and will repeatedly try to injure animals or people. They often destroy property, including their own toys. They break rules for the sake of breaking them, even when they do not benefit from doing so. They may appear unfocused, depressed or hyperactive.
Identification Several warning signs can help parents, caregivers, social service workers and therapists identify a toddler conduct disorder. Toddlers with this behavioral problem often show little regard for the health and happiness of others, and will repeatedly try to injure animals or people. They often destroy property, including their own toys. They break rules for the sake of breaking them, even when they do not benefit from doing so. They may appear unfocused, depressed or hyperactive.
Time Frame Toddlers often go through phases of misbehavior, especially when coping with a major life change or when experiencing frustration during a developmental leap. However, if a misbehavior continues for several months and seems independent of a contextual trigger, the child may have a conduct disorder.
Factors Several factors can promote a toddler developing a behavioral disorder. Toddlers who have a developmental delay or a physical disability that frustrates them may act out with misbehavior. Children who have experienced bullying or abuse may develop conduct disorder. Toddlers with attention disorders or hyperactivity may lack self control, resulting in impulsive, sometimes violent, behavior.
Expert Insight Several specialists can help family members with toddlers who show extreme misbehavior that may be a conduct disorder. Child psychologists, child psychiatrists, family therapists and social service agencies that specialize in early intervention can provide support and methods for treating specific disorders.
Prevention/Solution While every toddler has a unique situation and responds to treatment differently, certain strategies typically help families of toddlers with conduct disorder. Utilizing positive reinforcement, maintaining a daily routine, providing fair and consistent consequences and getting outside help can create a more positive home environment conducive to improved behavior.
Factors Several factors can promote a toddler developing a behavioral disorder. Toddlers who have a developmental delay or a physical disability that frustrates them may act out with misbehavior. Children who have experienced bullying or abuse may develop conduct disorder. Toddlers with attention disorders or hyperactivity may lack self control, resulting in impulsive, sometimes violent, behavior.
Expert Insight Several specialists can help family members with toddlers who show extreme misbehavior that may be a conduct disorder. Child psychologists, child psychiatrists, family therapists and social service agencies that specialize in early intervention can provide support and methods for treating specific disorders.
Prevention/Solution While every toddler has a unique situation and responds to treatment differently, certain strategies typically help families of toddlers with conduct disorder. Utilizing positive reinforcement, maintaining a daily routine, providing fair and consistent consequences and getting outside help can create a more positive home environment conducive to improved behavior.
Share your experience dealing with a child that has behavior problems?
Latest News
- Health Tip: When Aggressive Behavior Signals a Problem(01/05/2012, HealthDay)
- Early Help May Improve Preemies' Behavior Later(12/21/2011, Reuters Health)
- Immigrants Show Environment Role in Behavior Issues(12/07/2011, Reuters Health)
ADHD is a common behavioral disorder that affects an estimated 8% to 10% of school-age children. Boys are about three times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with it, though it's not yet understood why.
Kids with ADHD act without thinking, are hyperactive, and have trouble focusing. They may understand what's expected of them but have trouble following through because they can't sit still, pay attention, or attend to details.
Of course, all kids (especially younger ones) act this way at times, particularly when they're anxious or excited. But the difference with ADHD is that symptoms are present over a longer period of time and occur in different settings. They impair a child's ability to function socially, academically, and at home.
The good news is that with proper treatment, kids with ADHD can learn to successfully live with and manage their symptoms.
Kids with ADHD act without thinking, are hyperactive, and have trouble focusing. They may understand what's expected of them but have trouble following through because they can't sit still, pay attention, or attend to details.
Of course, all kids (especially younger ones) act this way at times, particularly when they're anxious or excited. But the difference with ADHD is that symptoms are present over a longer period of time and occur in different settings. They impair a child's ability to function socially, academically, and at home.
The good news is that with proper treatment, kids with ADHD can learn to successfully live with and manage their symptoms.
Data & Statistics
In the United States
Medication Treatment
[Read article]
In the United States
- The American Psychiatric Association states in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) that 3%-7% of school-aged children have ADHD1. However, studies have estimated higher rates in community samples.
- Recent data from surveys of parents indicate that:
[Read article]- Parents report that approximately 9.5% or 5.4 million children 4-17 years of age have ever been diagnosed with ADHD, as of 2007.
- The percentage of children with a parent-reported ADHD diagnosis increased by 22% between 2003 and 2007.
- Rates of ADHD diagnosis increased an average of 3% per year from 1997 to 2006 [Read article ] and an average of 5.5% per year from 2003 to 2007.
- Boys (13.2%) were more likely than girls (5.6%) to have ever been diagnosed with ADHD.
- Rates of ADHD diagnosis increased at a greater rate among older teens as compared to younger children.
- The highest rates of parent-reported ADHD diagnosis were noted among children covered by Medicaid and multiracial children.
- Prevalence of parent-reported ADHD diagnosis varied substantially by state, from a low of 5.6% in Nevada to a high of 15.6% in North Carolina.
- Parents report that approximately 9.5% or 5.4 million children 4-17 years of age have ever been diagnosed with ADHD, as of 2007.
Medication Treatment
[Read article]
- As of 2007, parents of 2.7 million youth ages 4-17 years (66.3% of those with a current diagnosis) report that their child was receiving medication treatment for the disorder. [Read article]
- Rates of medication treatment for ADHD varied by age and sex; children aged 11-17 years of age were more likely than those 4-10 years of age to take medication, and boys are 2.8 times more likely to take medication than girls [Read article]
- In 2003, geographic variability in prevalence of medication treatment ranged from a low of 2.1% in California to a high of 6.5% in Arkansas. [Read article]
Hyperactivity disorder
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
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