Assessment and Treatment
Why are accurate assessment and sound treatment protocols essential?
Monitoring for diseases or early developmental problems necessitates evaluations. Assessing a kid is obtaining data in an attempt to make key decisions concerning the child’s progress. A proper evaluation is vital since it can aid in the diagnosis of an early cognitive problem and the development of therapeutic regimens that will benefit the kid. The earlier an anomaly is discovered, the more successful the therapeutic strategy will be in allowing a kid to realize his or her full capacity. Early detection is critical for both parents and professionals. Caregivers can assist in measuring their child’s development by observing how they interact, study, and communicate, as well as behaviors. A child’s development is evaluated in more aspects than simply height and weight; it is evaluated by how they progress, develop, and study during their lifetimes, commencing at conception. Accomplishments are used to track developmental progress, and family members, relatives, earlier childhood specialists, and other health practitioners can all engage (Developmental monitoring and screening, 2021). When parents take their child to the physician for a check-up, the physician or caregiver will inquire if he or she has reached certain developmental stages, which will assist in developmental tracking. If a goal is not achieved for any cause, it could be a symptom of concern (Developmental monitoring and screening, 2021).
Upon the child’s subsequent appointment, the physician or another practitioner will further check the problem with more comprehensive testing or examination. In addition to developmental tracking, developmental screenings will be an important element of evaluating a child. Development screenings are higher formalized assessments that are performed less frequently than developmental surveillance. If the practitioner or parents/caregivers have any issues, screening is performed. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that development and behavioral screenings should be performed during well-child visits at nine months and between twenty-four and thirty months. Children born preterm, with reduced birth mass, due to ecological concerns, lead poisoning, or other circumstances may necessitate further tests. Furthermore, if a kid has a history of chronic medical problems or has been identified with an illness, he or she must be examined in all aspects of growth. As a family member or provider, they should always be a champion for having a child assessed if they believe there is a problem with the kid, as they are the one who knows the kid better. A development assessment is a diagnostic technique that can suggest whether or not a kid is on the appropriate developing path or if they should be assessed deeper by a professional and undergo a full developmental assessment (Developmental monitoring and screening, 2021).
What are the implications of stigmatization and improper diagnosis?
Stigma is characterized as a societal complexity that encompasses labelling, categorizing, isolation, and prejudice. In some circumstances, ostracizing ideas about mental disorders foster cultural skepticism about mental wellness care, particularly when children are concerned. Some parents feel that doctors overmedicate kids for typical behavioural issues and that treatment has a negative impact on their children ‘s growth and conduct. Some caregivers also believe that if a kid receives mental wellness therapy, the kid would become an outcast and will struggle as a grownup. Negative views and perspectives toward mental illness create obstacles that prevent families or caregivers from obtaining help for their children, generating more issues than they solve (dosReis, 2010).
The solution to misidentifying kids with cognitive disabilities or abnormalities can be very complicated, but in most situations, it is since specialists are more predisposed to identify problems that they believe more experienced addressing. Then some doctors have not received specific education in psychiatric, resulting in a dearth of competence. Cultural and ecological variables, according to studies, may lead to mental illness misinterpretation. The primary result of a mental illness inappropriate diagnosis is a dearth of effective treatments, which leads caregivers to lose confidence in the quality of their child’s growth. This can also contribute to serious issues in mental health disorders that jeopardize a child’s behavioural and educational skills (Kvarnstrom, 2020). Inappropriate diagnosis and incorrect medication can further exacerbate malfunction by subjecting children to improper drugs, resulting in the onset of novel problems or exacerbating existing disorders.
References
Developmental monitoring and screening. (2021, February 22). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/screening.html
Elisabet Kvarnstrom. (2020, October 25). The dangers of mental health misdiagnosis: Why accuracy matters. Bridges to Recovery. https://www.bridgestorecovery.com/blog/the-dangers-of-mental-health-misdiagnosis-why-accuracy-matters/
Susan dosReis. (2010, August 1). Stigmatizing experiences of parents of children with a new diagnosis of ADHD. Psychiatric Services. https://ps.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/ps.2010.61.8.811
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