The First Step to Counseling a Child Is Understanding Their Issues
Learn about the many behavioural, developmental, and learning issues, as well as how they affect kids and families. This course is a must if you work with children in a caring position and want to learn more about childhood mental health.
Pervasive developmental diseases such as Rett’s disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, and autism spectrum disorder (which now includes Asperger’s syndrome) are examples of developmental disorders. Each has a unique set of causes, treatments, and indications and symptoms. Conduct disorders including oppositional defiant disorder and various attention and hyperactivity problems are examples of behavioural disorders. Learning disorders, such as reading problems, are specialised developmental abnormalities. As a child can have one issue, like dyslexia, while remaining generally “normal,” it is debatable whether or not these conditions should be classified as mental health issues.
If a developmental issue is not identified and treated, the consequences can be quite serious in later life. The simple act of becoming aware and taking action early in childhood can frequently prevent issues that could otherwise become serious issues in later life.
The definitions of the aforementioned disorder categories as well as motor and communication problems are covered in this course. Learn how to recognise the warning signs, symptoms, and treatments for these many groups of childhood disorders by enrolling in the course.
The training will enhance the understanding of professionals working in connected disciplines and is appropriate for students of health sciences, psychology, and counselling.
Lesson Structure
There are 9 lessons in this course:
- Nature and Scope of Developmental Disorders – Learning disability
- Classification of Childhood Disorders
- Causes of Developmental Disorders- Genetic Factors, Physical Factors, Environmental Factors
- A General Overview of the Diagnosis of Developmental Disorders
- The Prevalence of Developmental Disorders in the General Population
- The Impact on the Families and Children and Adolescents with Developmental Disorders
- Learning Disability
- Co-morbid Disorders
- Autism – Autistic Disorder signs, symptoms, treatment and support
- Causes of Autism
- Definition of Autism
- The Signs and Symptoms of Autism
- Impaired Social Development & Interactions
- Abnormal Communication
- Repetitive Behaviour
- Other Problems
- The Other Side of the Coin
- Causes of Autism
- History of the Perception of Autism
- Prevalence & Course of Autism in the General Population
- The Autism Spectrum
- Issues Facing Children and Adolescents with Autism
- The Impact of Autism on the Family
- Treatments for Children and Adolescents with Autism
- How Parents/Carers and Practitioners can Support Children with Autism
- Supportive Services for Children and Adolescents with Autism
- Asperger’s Disorder – signs, symptoms, treatment and support
- Definition of Asperger’s Disorder
- The Signs and Symptoms of Asperger’s Disorder
- 1) Impaired Social Interactions
- 2) Repetitive Behaviour
- Causes of Asperger’s Disorder
- The History of Asperger’s Disorder
- The Prevalence & Course of Asperger’s Disorder in the General Population
- Asperger’s Disorder and Autism – The Autism Spectrum
- The Impact of Asperger’s Disorder on the Child or Adolescent
- The Impact of Asperger’s Disorder on the Family
- Treatments Available for Children and Adolescents with Asperger’s Disorder
- How Parents/Carers and Practitioners can Support Children with Asperger’s Disorder
- Supportive Services Available for Children with Asperger’s Disorder and Their Family
- Other Pervasive Developmental Disorders (Rett’s Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Developmental Disorders NOS) signs, symptoms, treatment and support
- Definition of Pervasive Developmental Disorders
- Rett’s Disorder
- Childhood Disintegrative Disorder
- Developmental Disorders Not Otherwise Specified
- Causes of Developmental Disorders
- A General View on How Developmental Disorders are Diagnosed
- The Impact of Developmental Disorders on the Child or Adolescent
- The Impact on the Family of the Child or Adolescent with Developmental Disorders
- Attention-Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders – ADHD & variants, signs, symptoms, treatment and support
- Signs & Symptoms of ADHD
- 1) Features of Inattention
- 2) Features of Hyperactivity-Impulsivity
- 3) Settings
- Causes of ADHD
- Historical Background of ADHD
- Prevalence & Course of ADHD
- Treatment of ADHD
- Support Available
- Factors that can Aggravate ADD or ADHD Symptoms
- The Impact of ADD and ADHD on the Child or Adolescent
- The Impact on the Family of a Child with ADD or ADHD
- Conduct Disorders (Include oppositional defiant disorder) signs, symptoms, treatment and support
- Definition of Conduct Disorder
- Signs and Symptoms of Conduct Disorders
- Causes of Conduct Disorders
- Prevalence & Course of Conduct Disorders in the General Population
- Definition of Oppositional Defiant Disorder
- Signs and Symptoms of Oppositional Defiant Disorder
- Causes of Oppositional Defiant Disorder
- Prevalence & Course of Oppositional Defiant Disorder in the General Population
- Anti-Social Personality Disorder (APD)
- Treatments Available for Conduct Disorders
- Support for Families and Children with Conduct Disorders
- The Impact of Conduct Disorders on Children
- The Impact on the Family of Having a Child with a Conduct Disorder
- How Parents/Carers and Practitioners can Support Children with Conduct Disorders
- Learning Disorders – focus on academia (Mathematics, Reading Disorder – Dyslexia, etc.) signs, symptoms, treatment and support
- Specific Developmental Disorders
- Definition of Learning Disorders
- Reading Disorder (Developmental Dyslexia)
- Disorder of Written Expression (Specific Spelling Disorder)
- Mathematics (Arithmetic) Disorder
- Communications Disorders & Motor Skills Disorder – focus on speech and language signs, symptoms, treatment and support
- Definition of Communication Disorders
- Causes of Communication Disorders
- Phonological Disorder
- Expressive Language Disorder
- Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder
- Stuttering
- Motor Skills Disorder
- Impact on the Child and Family of Communication Disorders
- Special Project (choose something of interest to the student) signs, symptoms, treatment and support
Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school’s tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.
Aims
- Describe the type, extent, and effects of developmental issues in kids and teenagers.
- Describe autism, its diagnosis, and suitable comments that relatives, friends, teachers, carers, and professionals might make.
- Describe Asperger’s disorder, including the diagnosis and suitable reactions that may be given by friends, family, teachers, carers, and professionals.
- Describe several widespread developmental disorders, including how they are diagnosed and how family, friends, teachers, carers, and professionals should respond in each case.
- Describe various attention-deficit and hyperactivity problems, their diagnoses, and the proper actions that can be taken by family, friends, teachers, carers, and professionals.
- Describe conduct disorders, including how they are diagnosed and how family, friends, teachers, carers, and professionals should respond in each case.
- Describe many types of learning difficulties, including how they are diagnosed and how family, friends, teachers, carers, and professionals should respond in each case.
- Describe several communication difficulties, including how they are diagnosed and how family, friends, teachers, carers, and professionals should respond in each case.
- Develop and provide a support strategy for a child with a particular condition.
WHAT CAUSES DISORDERS TO OCCUR?
Developmental problems can be caused by a variety of variables, many of which are difficult to describe. For instance, a variety of pathological processes are assumed to contribute to the central nervous system’s malfunction, and learning disorders are thought to have a variety of underlying causative elements. Many aetiologies may contribute to other conditions. The causes of childhood diseases are frequently complex and include both environmental and inherited variables, some of which include the following:
1.Genes are one factor
Some evidence suggests that the development of paediatric illnesses may be influenced by heredity. Those who are born to parents who have mental health illnesses may undoubtedly have a little elevated risk, but whether these genetic factors are manifested typically relies on how they interact with their environment.
According to certain research, psychological features that can result in the development of behavioural and emotional disorders, as well as the disorders themselves, may be more influenced by genetic factors. Yet, a kid may occasionally exhibit symptoms of more than one illness, and sometimes a disorder will present itself in ways that are similar to those of other disorders.
Indirect genetic effects may also have an impact on how diseases develop in those who are predisposed to them. For instance, intelligence and temperament may have an impact on how much a youngster interprets experiences as stressful. Babies who show interest, respond promptly, and display a moderate behavioural response may be less likely to develop childhood illnesses than those who withdraw, respond slowly, or behave excessively in response to novel stimuli.
2. Natural Resources
Child disorders and other issues can result from a wide range of medical illnesses. Examples include diseases that can arise owing to a general medical condition such as brain damage, paediatric cancer, meningitis, etc., as well as learning difficulties related to pregnancy such as foetal alcohol syndrome, problems caused by hypoxia at birth, etc.
Brain abnormalities are the most frequent physical cause of paediatric disorders. Compared to about 12% of children with medical illnesses, about one-third of children with brain disorders also have psychosocial disorders.
If they experience negative psychosocial impacts, children with brain injuries are more likely to develop a psychological condition. In contrast to the site of the injury, the likelihood of illnesses linked to brain damage seems to rise with severity.
3. Environmental aspects
The manifestation of childhood diseases can be influenced by a wide range of environmental factors. They consist of:
- Children thrive on love, stability, warmth, support, and regular, positive discipline in the family. Infants are known to form secure relationships and trust with the aid of consistent, routine interactions.
- Parental conflict, poor family ties and long periods of separation from parents may contribute to mental health issues. Extended absences from the primary carer are linked to separation anxiety, sadness, and misbehaviour. If a parent avoids making attachments when the baby is around or makes inconsistent attachments, it could cause more issues.
- Family home – Children who live in overcrowded housing, have low socioeconomic level, have a parent with a mental health disorder, and who are in foster care are more likely to experience mental health problems. Neglect, as well as physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, is a major contributor to children’s mental health issues. The likelihood of mental health problems increases with the number of risk factors present, yet children with just one risk factor would not experience considerably more disorders than children with no risk factors.
- Parental mental health: If one or both parents suffer from a mental illness, it may have an impact on the child’s mental wellbeing. This is particularly true if the mother is unwell and the child’s primary carer. Particularly, parents who suffer from depression or schizophrenia may fail to attend to their children’s emotional needs. Children of parents who struggle with their mental health may find it harder to fit in and be more disruptive. Children may not receive enough amounts of care from parents who have mental health problems related to alcohol and drugs, which would put them at a disadvantage.
- Divorce seems to have a bigger effect on children’s mental health than when parents who are fighting stay together. Divorce or death of parents. The first 12 to 18 months in particular seem to be a time of significant danger. After that, divorce’s long-term ramifications are less obvious. When a parent passes away, younger children may develop anxiety-related problems, whereas children over the age of five may develop depression and conduct issues.
- There is some evidence that students who are given responsibility and get encouragement and praise from their professors are less likely to develop psychological illnesses. Although the long-term effects of bullying are not completely understood, both physical bullying and cyberbullying are known to cause victims to experience acute stress, which can affect the development of disorders.
- Community: Particular risk factors for a child’s mental health may also exist in the immediate neighbourhood. Overcrowding, a lack of community support and involvement, subpar amenities, a lack of play places, and restricted access to healthcare services are all linked to worse mental health outcomes.
How This Course May Be of Use to You
A critical period in our lives is childhood, when we complete developmental milestones and continue to grow through adolescence and into maturity. There are challenges along the path for certain kids and teenagers. Several of those issues, including developmental, learning, and behavioural difficulties, are the main topics of this course. Students will learn how to understand illnesses in these groups through their presenting characteristics and become aware of the different sorts of treatment choices through studying this course.
The following groups of persons will benefit most from taking the course:
- Youth work
- Child and adolescent counselling
- School counselling
- Teaching
- Child psychology
- Caring roles
- Youth coaching