Atypical Behaviors in Childhood

There are three types of atypical behaviors in childhood: attention problems, internalizing problems, and externalizing problems. Attention problems are problems that impact the child’s ability to concentrate. (Bee and Boyd, 2004, 422). By this I do not mean outside influences that impact a child’s ability to concentrate, but internal disorders. ADD, ADHD, and Conduct Disorders are all attention problems that impact the physical ability of a child to focus their attention on the task at hand and maintain their attention span. Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders have both been the focus of concern in the news in recent years. These disorders not only affect the student’s ability to function at school but other students’ abilities to function in school as well.

Children with ADD or ADHD often are disruptive in the classroom, and display behavior problems that make the school experience difficult for everyone involved, however, with proper treatment the symptoms of these disorders can be effectively controlled and managed. Conduct Disorder is another disorder within the attention problem genre. This disorder differs from ADD and ADHD in that the patterns of behaviors that are observed are markedly more deviant and antisocial in nature, and also have high levels of aggression and delinquent acts.

Treatment for these disorders can include both drug therapy and behavior modification therapies. Drug therapy for ADD an ADHD may include such drugs as Modafinil and Ritalin. Treating Conduct Disorder is a very difficult process. The best way to treat this disorder is to treat individual symptoms and sub-disorders, as well as finding appropriate disciplinary actions that encourage pro-social behavior (Wood, 2003) in order to redirect negative behavior to pro-social behavior.

Internalized problems occur when the child focuses their deviant behaviors on their self. (Bee and Boyd, 2004, 422). Issues related to this problem genre include eating disorders, depression, and adolescent suicide. Eating disorders like Bulimia and Anorexia stem from feelings of self hate and body image distortion issues. Eating disorders are often treated with support groups and psychological counseling. If the problem becomes life threatening then an in-patient program may be needed where IV nutrition is pumped directly into the patient’s body. They are monitored around the clock to make sure they do not make themselves vomit, and to make sure that they are not taking any kind of stimulant drug or purgatory drugs like diuretics or laxatives. Psychological counseling in these cases focus on the core issues the are causing the mood disorder or eating disorder habits. Body image disorder also will probably address body image and self-confidence issues that the person is dealing with.

Depression can impact the developing child by impacting their ability to perform their daily tasks, by retarding their energy level, and by chronic sad mood. Depression can be treated in a number of ways depending on the type of depression that is being experienced. In some cases light or color therapy can be helpful in cases where the depression is linked to seasonal mood swings. Psychological counseling can also be helpful to help address the core issues that have caused the depression. Physical tests may also be necessary to determine if the depression has been spurred by a chemical imbalance in the brain. If this is the case then drug therapy using Prozac or Paxil be used to help improve the brain’s chemical balance. (Bee and Boyd, 2004).

The last genre of atypical behavior problems experienced in childhood are externalizing problems. This set of problems is also referred to as disturbances of conduct and are deviant behaviors that the child directs outwardly towards other people. (Bee and Boyd, 2004, 422). Delinquency, excessive aggression, and defiance are all types of externalized problems that children face. In this genre treatment probably will be based around psychological counseling and behavior modification therapies.

While all of these atypical behavior problem genres can be devastating to the child experiencing them, they are also devastating and taxing on the child’s family. Behavior issues caused by hyperactivity, inability to focus, deviant and antisocial behaviors can all negatively impact the family who has to deal with the effects these behaviors create. Stealing, physical aggression, and outburst are taxing and dangerous to family members, especially when there are other children in the household. If a family is unable to control or manage these hazardous behaviors then they may have to consider sending the child away to an institution or in-patient treatment program in order to help their child recover from their disorder, and to protect the other members of the family. While this extreme decision may be the best option, it still may increase feelings of guilt, shame, and embarrassment for the family members who then are faced with dealing with these feelings. Family counseling may be needed to help everyone within the family deal with the problems and emotions created by the situation.

For families dealing with a child’s eating disorders there may be a physical pain at watching their child waste away to nothing. They have to deal with the denial and increasing behavior issues that arise as the disorder progresses. They may even be faced with making the choice between committing their child to an in-patient treatment program or letting them die from starvation. Atypical behavior problems create tension and emotional strain within the family. In order to remedy the situation, treatment is needed for both the child with the disorder and the family. All of whom have been impacted by the disorder in question.

References�¯�¿�½

Bee, Helen and Boyd, Denise. (2004). The Developing Child. (10th ed.). Boston: Pearson.