Behavioural Disorders In Children
Some children have extremely difficult and challenging behaviours that are outside the norm for their age.
These problems can result from temporary stressors in the child’s life, or they might represent more enduring disorders. The most common disruptive behaviour disorders include oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder (CD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Oppositional defiant disorder
Around one in 10 children under the age of 12 years are thought to have oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), with boys outnumbering girls by two to one. Some of the typical behaviours of a child with ODD include:
easily angered, annoyed or irritated
frequent temper tantrums
argues frequently with adults, particularly the most familiar adults in their lives, such as parents
refuses to obey rules
seems to deliberately try to annoy or aggravate others
low self-esteem
low frustration threshold
seeks to blame others for any misfortunes or misdeeds.
Conduct disorder
Some of the typical behaviours of a child with CD may include:
frequent refusal to obey parents or other authority figures
repeated truancy
tendency to use drugs, including cigarettes and alcohol, at a very early age
lack of empathy for others
being aggressive to animals and other people or showing sadistic behaviours including bullying and physical or sexual abuse
keenness to start physical fights
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Inattention – difficulty concentrating, forgetting instructions, moving from one task to another without completing anything.
Impulsivity – talking over the top of others, having a ‘short fuse’, being accident-prone.
Overactivity – constant restlessness and fidgeting.
is usually multifaceted and depends on the particular disorder and factors contributing to it, but may include:
Parental education – for example, teaching parents how to communicate with and manage their children.
Family therapy – the entire family is helped to improve communication and problem-solving skills.
Cognitive behavioural therapy – to help the child to control their thoughts and behaviour.
Social training – the child is taught important social skills, such as how to have a conversation or play cooperatively with others.
Anger management – the child is taught how to recognise the signs of their growing frustration and given a range of coping skills designed to defuse their anger and aggressive behaviour. Relaxation techniques and stress management skills are also taught.
Support for associated problems – for example, a child with a learning difficulty will benefit from professional support.
Encouragement – many children with behavioural disorders experience repeated failures at school and in their interactions with others. Encouraging the child to excel in their particular talents (such as sport) can help to build self-esteem.
Medication – to help control impulsive behaviours.
Signs and Symptoms of Autism
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. People with ASD often have problems with social communication and interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests.
- Social Communication and Interaction Skills
- Social communication and interaction skills can be challenging for people with ASD.
- Restricted or Repetitive Behaviors or Interests
- Lines up toys or other objects and gets upset when order is changed
- Repeats words or phrases over and over (called echolalia)
- Plays with toys the same way every time
- Is focused on parts of objects (for example, wheels)
- Gets upset by minor changes
- Has obsessive interests
- Must follow certain routines
- Flaps hands, rocks body, or spins self in circles
- Has unusual reactions to the way things sound, smell, taste, look, or feel
Other Characteristics
- Delayed language skills
- Delayed movement skills
- Delayed cognitive or learning skills
- Hyperactive, impulsive, and/or inattentive behavior
- Epilepsy or seizure disorder