10 ways to know if your child has a behavioral disorders

How to know if your child has behavioral disorder

Behavioral Disorders

There are many different types of behavioral disorders that children may be dealing with, including ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and conduct disorder (CD). And behavioral disorder doesn't mean your child has a mental illness. If you suspect that your child may have one of these disorders, it’s important to understand the signs and symptoms so you can seek the best treatment possible from a behavioral specialist. Here are ten warning signs to look out for if you think your child may have a behavioral disorder:

1) They Are Constantly Moody or Irritable

Your child may be dealing with an issue such as ADHD, ODD, or a general mood disorder. It’s good to check in every once in a while on what’s going on in their head. A great way is to let them play with clay/playdough. Let them make something that represents how they feel. You could also say what would happen if you didn’t have x? What do you think would happen? Do you like it or not? See what comes out of their mouth after these questions—you can tell so much from children and parents alike that don’t realize it.

2) They Are Inconsistent About Making Friends

Your child might have many friends one day, but then, after an argument or fall-out with one of their mates, not want to see them for days. While it's normal for kids to be less than consistent about seeing their friends from week to week, it may be something more if you find your child's inability to make and keep friends is affecting their quality of life. Keeping up relationships can make kids feel more secure, especially if they're still exploring what it means to be part of a group. If you notice your child constantly changing groups or falling out with old mates regularly without explanation (or without accepting apologies), they could well have a behavioral disorder that needs treatment.

3) Their Behavior Is Inappropriate For Their Age

Everyone messes up, even kids. But when your kid acts out inappropriately or misbehaves in any way, it’s important to consider whether or not their behavior could be more than just an isolated incident. If you’re wondering how to tell if something is just a phase or might be indicative of a more serious problem, keep these things in mind: Is there any pattern? Is there mental health normal? Are they behaving outside their normal routine (perhaps acting more aggressively when home alone)? Have they acted like this before, only under different circumstances? Asking yourself these questions will help you determine whether or not behavior is being repeated and allow you to figure out why.

4) They Often Act Out, Become Hyperactive, or Clingy

Does your child often exhibit symptoms of hyperactivity, such as consistently fidgeting or squirming in their seat, playing roughly with other children, and running around excessively during lessons? Are they constantly clinging to you? If so, they might be suffering from a separation anxiety disorder. Separation anxiety disorder is characterized by overwhelming feelings of nervousness and sadness when faced with situations in which a child will have to separate from his/her caregiver.

5) They Don’t Have Much Empathy For Others

Because children with behavioral disorders are overly self-focused, they don’t often understand or recognize how their actions affect others. While these behaviors may be explained away as kids being kids, be wary of any child who shows frequent and consistent disregard for other people’s feelings and rights. If your child frequently hurts his siblings without remorse or expresses glee at another child’s misfortune, there may be a deeper issue at work here.

6) They Have Trouble Maintaining Their Focus on Tasks

Kids with ADHD often have trouble maintaining their focus on tasks. They may get sidetracked by something seemingly unimportant, or forget what they're doing in favor of another activity. You can help alleviate these symptoms by setting up an organized environment for them and limiting distractions, such as electronic devices. Establishing routines also helps children (of all ages) with ADHD stay focused. Show your child that you believe in him and that he can be successful, despite his disorder.

7) They Can’t Seem To Follow Instructions, Finish Chores, or Behave During Mealtimes

Although it’s normal for young children to have some difficulty in doing these tasks, it’s not normal for them to be unable to do them. Sometimes, young children will have trouble with certain tasks because they don’t fully understand what is being asked of them, but that shouldn’t happen after age 4 or 5 (and not past puberty). If you notice your child having trouble following instructions consistently or getting chores done without constant reminders and redirection, then they might need help. It could be that there is an underlying condition like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) which can cause problems in these areas.

8) Nothing Ever Seems Good Enough Or Right To Them

Nothing is good enough for those with ADHD. Whatever is done for them or said to them, it’s never right. The positive feedback given by you can be ignored and even resented, causing resentment in turn from you that can trigger punishment from them. Since these children have trouble following rules and routines, they expect an environment where everything moves quickly and constantly changes; rather than slowly changing over time. Finding activities for such children that present new challenges as well as stimulating them intellectually will help establish schedules and rituals that are easier for them to understand and follow, like having a schedule of meals times or making sure their workspace remains organized throughout whatever project they happen to be working on at any given time.

9) They Are Disruptive In Class and at Home

The classic way of identifying ADHD is by having an adult complete a self-report questionnaire known as The Connors Rating Scale for Parents. For children younger than 5, who can’t (yet) understand questions about how they feel and behave, it’s more useful to have a parent or caregiver complete observational scales such as The Child Behavior Checklist or The Social Skills Rating System. These tools give you real-time information about what behaviors are problematic and how often they occur. Of course, some kids display disruptive behavior but don’t have an underlying disorder—it might just be that they aren’t getting enough sleep or they aren’t getting along with their siblings.

10) Extreme Forms of ADHD are Present in Children (6 Or More Symptoms That Cause Significant Problems Functioning at School, Home, or with Friends).

Childhood ADHD is one of the most common mental disorders in kids. The DSM-5 estimates that about 9 percent of school-aged children are affected (the prevalence for adults is 4.4 percent). But in its extreme form, ADHD can make it extremely difficult for children to succeed at school, keep friends, and control their impulses. If you suspect that your child falls into any of these categories, consider talking with his or her pediatrician as soon as possible; treatment may be necessary not only for academic reasons but also to help them avoid any potentially negative behaviors or outcomes due to their ADHD symptoms. It's important never to think of ADHD as a badge of honor. Kids who have extreme forms of ADHD do not necessarily enjoy having severe problems functioning at home and school.