Behavioral Assessment

Greetings everyone!

Today's guide is all about behavioral challenges in children. I’d say this is more how pediatricians assess the child, not how to diagnose. This is still great info, and I can work on this guide more if you guys are interested! What I underline in this information, is symptoms or important things.

Often, children go through phases in which they may seem unable to control their emotions. They may regularly throw tantrums, act unseemly, or continuously defy convention. For most children, this is merely a quick transition as they grow older and mature. 

For other kids, however, this pattern of behavior may prove detrimental to their social life and relationships with others. If you are concerned about how your child is acting, try to have them assessed so that they can get the treatment they need.

This section is what parents should know about. If you’d like to get straight to the point, feel free to scroll down.

What to do pre-assessment (for parents)

Before having the child assessed, the parent should find a pediatrician that specializes in the behavior and development of kids. This pediatrician should have experience in dealing with children exhibiting a rowdy pattern of behavior and should be able to give their professional opinion on the matter.

The right pediatrician should be able to make a sound assessment and help you find the right treatment for the child!

What happens during the assessment?

Typically it involves the pediatrician interacting consistently with the child. This will help them get a feel for how your child behaves. To do this, they will perform a medical exam and will need background information on how your child reacts.

Aside from personal observation, they will also have to consult with other adults in your child’s life, such as their teachers. If needed, they might also consult other specialists in the matter. Once a holistic assessment has been done, they should give you a final diagnosis.

Why should you have your child assessed?

Early diagnosis for extreme behavior will greatly benefit your child in the long run. When left untreated, these children might grow to be unhappy adults. They might miss a lot when it comes to regular and social development. 

Having a pediatrician assess your child will help alleviate some of their issues. With proper treatment, your child will get the training they need. Therapy will help your kid learn how to cope better with their mixed emotions and learn techniques to handle emotional volatility all on their own.

DIAGNOSIS SECTION.

This section is for you guys! The top part is information for the parents, and in-game you can always explain to them this. It’s highly recommended!

“How can I tell if my child has behavioral issues?”

A lot of parents ask this. And they can always look for signs and or symptoms! Some are..

-easily getting annoyed or nervous.

-often appearing angry.

-putting blame on others.

-arguing and throwing tantrums.

-having difficulty managing frustration.

It’s very important that you spend time with the child, so you can develop a sense of how they act towards the parents, siblings, and even you. You should always ask the parents what type of symptoms the child’s been having. 

-Diagnostic evaluation 

To diagnose a behavioral problem in a child or adolescent, an expert trained in childhood development and behavior meets with you and your child to perform a comprehensive evaluation.

The first part of the evaluation involves interviews—both individually and together with parents—to assess the child’s background, medical history, and symptoms. When a clinician conducts the diagnostic interview with a child, he or she speaks with the child and observes the child's nonverbal communication, such as facial expressions and posture. Those are the most common signs! 

You also complete questionnaires to give the team a sense of your child’s behaviors and how they’re affecting daily life. Our clinicians also talk with your child’s teachers and caregivers.

After a child and adolescent psychologists, psychiatrists, or developmental–behavioral pediatricians have gathered the information about a child’s behavior, they meet with parents and the child to discuss the diagnosis and treatment options. Our specialists aim to help you understand your child’s behavior and provide you with a treatment plan to meet your child’s—and your family’s—needs.

It’s very important you give as many details as possible to the parents. You can always run more tests if you’re unsure, or always ask me! I hope this helped further your understanding. Feel free to DM me ideas or if you have any questions! 

Sincerely yours,

Gianna M. Dior

Director of pediatrics