Childhood Disorders

What is childhood disorders?

Child psychology experts from the University of Oxford and University of Pittsburgh say that the term “disorder” should be used cautiously for children up to 5 years old, and question its validity. Professors Frances Gardner and Daniel S. Shaw say the evidence is limited that problems in preschool indicate problems later in life, or that behavioral issues are evidence of a true disorder. “There are concerns about distinguishing normal from abnormal behavior in this period of rapid developmental change,” they wrote.

FORMS AND CAUSES OF CHILDHOOD DISORDERS

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Children and adolescents with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) have frequent and persistent patterns of anger, irritability, arguing, defiance towards parents and other authority figures. Symptoms may be difficulty to differential from a child who is strong-willed or has difficulty with emotion regulation. Signs of ODD often begin during the preschool years. It may develop later, but almost always before early adolescence. These behaviors can negatively impact families, social activities and school.

School Refusal

School refusal describes a child’s refusal to attend school. It can begin with intermittent absences and escalate into missing days, weeks, or months of school at a time. A child who is refusing school may do so by crying, screaming, hiding, complaining of physical ailments or throwing “temper tantrums.” It is estimated that approximately 50% of children who have school refusal also have a co-occurring anxiety disorder. Many children have difficulty articulating their distress related to school.

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