Common Childhood Conditions
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
ADHD is one of the most common mental disorders in children. Children with ADHD have impaired functioning in multiple settings, including home, school, and in relationships with peers. If untreated, the disorder can have long-term adverse effects into adolescence and adulthood. Click Here to Learn More
Depression:
Only in the past two decades has depression in children been taken seriously. Normal behaviors vary from one childhood stage to another, so it can be difficult to tell whether a child is just going through a “phase” or is suffering from depression. Seek the help of a professional to assess your child.
Symptoms:
Young Children may:
Conduct Disorder:
All children misbehave at times, but conduct disorders go beyond mischief and rebellion. With conduct disorders, the child usually has a pattern of hostile, aggressive or disruptive behaviors for several months. Seek the help of a professional to help avoid development of more severe behavior problems. Click Here to Learn More
Symptoms:
Oppositional Defiant Disorder:
Even the best-behaved children can be difficult and challenging at times. But if your child or teen has a frequent and persistent pattern of anger, irritability, arguing, defiance or vindictiveness toward you and other authority figures, he or she may have oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).
Click Here to Learn More
Symptoms:
ADHD is one of the most common mental disorders in children. Children with ADHD have impaired functioning in multiple settings, including home, school, and in relationships with peers. If untreated, the disorder can have long-term adverse effects into adolescence and adulthood. Click Here to Learn More
- Affects an estimated 4 percent of youths ages 9-17
- Affects about 2 to 3 times more boys than girls
- Children can’t stay focused on task
- Can’t sit still
- Act without thinking
- Have a hard time finishing tasks
- Hyperactivity, impulsivity
Depression:
Only in the past two decades has depression in children been taken seriously. Normal behaviors vary from one childhood stage to another, so it can be difficult to tell whether a child is just going through a “phase” or is suffering from depression. Seek the help of a professional to assess your child.
Symptoms:
Young Children may:
- Pretend to be sick
- Refuse to go to school
- Cling to parents
- Worry that a parent will die
- Sulk
- Get into trouble at school
- Be negative, grouchy
- Feel misunderstood
Conduct Disorder:
All children misbehave at times, but conduct disorders go beyond mischief and rebellion. With conduct disorders, the child usually has a pattern of hostile, aggressive or disruptive behaviors for several months. Seek the help of a professional to help avoid development of more severe behavior problems. Click Here to Learn More
Symptoms:
- Harming or threatening themselves, other people or pets
- Damaging or destroying property
- Lying or stealing
- Not doing well in school, skipping school
- Early smoking, drinking or drug use
- Early sexual activity
- Frequent tantrums and arguments
- Consistent hostility towards authority figures
Oppositional Defiant Disorder:
Even the best-behaved children can be difficult and challenging at times. But if your child or teen has a frequent and persistent pattern of anger, irritability, arguing, defiance or vindictiveness toward you and other authority figures, he or she may have oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).
Click Here to Learn More
Symptoms:
- Angry and irritable mood
- Often loses temper
- Is often touchy and easily annoyed by others
- Is often angry and resentful
- Argumentative and defiant behavior
- Often argues with adults or people in authority
- Often actively defies or refuses to comply with adults' requests or rules
- Often deliberately annoys people
- Often blames others for his or her mistakes or misbehavior
- Vindictiveness
- Is often spiteful or vindictive
- Has shown spiteful or vindictive behavior at least twice in the past six months