Does My Child Have An Emotional Or Behavioral Disorder?

Among all the dilemmas facing a parent of a child with emotional or behavioral problems, the first question-whether the child's behavior is sufficiently different to require a comprehensive evaluation by professionals-may be the most troublesome of all.

The realization that a child's behavior needs professional attention can be painful or frightening to parents who have tried to support their child, or it may be accepted and internalized as a personal failure by the parent.

Before seeking a formal mental health assessment, parents may have tried to help their child by talking to friends, relatives or the child's school.

Parents may feel that they also need help in learning better ways of supporting the child through difficult times, and may seek classes to help them sharpen behavior management skills or conflict resolution skills.

If a child's aggressive or argumentative behaviors, or sad or withdrawn behaviors are seen as a problem for a child or members of his or her family, then the child' s behaviors are a problem that should be looked at, regardless of their severity.




In Help for Your Child, A Parents Guide to Mental Health Services, I suggest three criterias to help in deciding whether a child's behavior is normal or a sign that the youngster needs help:


-The Duration of a Troublesome Behavior - Does it just keep going on with no sign that the child is going to outgrow it and progress to a new stage?

-The Intensity of a Behavior - For instance, while temper tantrums are normal in almost every child, some tantrums could be so extreme that they are frightening to parents and suggest that some specific intervention might be necessary Parents should pay particular attention to behaviors such as feelings of despair or hopelessness; lack of interest in family, friends, school or other activities that were once considered enjoyable; or behaviors dangerous to the child or to others.

-The Age of the Child - While some behavior might be quite normal for a child, observation of other children of the youngster's age may lead to the conclusion that the behavior in question is not quite right for a five year old. Not all children reach the same emotional milestones at the same age, but extreme deviations from age-appropriate behaviors may well be a cause for concern.


Attempts at self-injury or threats of suicide, violent behaviors, or severe withdrawal that creates an inability to carry on normal routines must be regarded as emergencies for which parents should seek immediate attention, through a mental health or medical clinic, mental health hotline, or crisis center.


Parents will also want to consider whether their child's behavior could be influenced by other factors:

whether a specific physical condition (allergies, change in medication, etc.) could be affecting the behavior;
whether school problems (relationships, learning problems) are creating additional stress;
whether the adolescent or older teen might be experimenting with drug use or alcohol;
whether changes in the family (divorce, new child, death) have occurred which may be causing concern for the child.