what to do for a young child am concerned might have some mental problems....?

Question

she is well liked and doesn't seem stupid, she likes to learn at her own rate and when she gets it , BAM!, she gets it, sometimes she is a little aggresive, and easily gets sad if things go wrong. She doesn't pay attention to her clothes, or if her shoes are on the right feet, and she doesn't like to clean. She was a problem pregnancy, and was born gestationally 5 wks early. She has been tested for genetic disorders because she is small, but nothing has come back positive, she had/ has speach problems, and her hearing is slightly messed up but she doesn't require a hearing aid. My mom says she' s fine but I am really concerned that I am missing something. Any one that can give me good avise is apprieciated.

she is7 1/2

Answer 1

As a teacher in the school system, I have the opportunity to witness many young people who project problems that many of the families do not see. While I do not teach special education, I have been trained to observe certain behaviors in children. You are very right to investigate and pay attention to this child's learning and developmental skills. You don't say how old she is, but if I were in your shoes, if she is school age - there should be testing available through the counseling progam or the social work program within the school system to help you determine EXACTLY what skills this young one has or is lacking. You say that her hearing is "slightly messed up' -but you need to know exactly what that means. Does she hear 20%, more, less? You should know. This could very well be part of the problem. Hearing affects posture, balance and many other areas in our physical selves that we don't give credit. Is she social? What pushes her over the edge? Has anyone diagnosed if she might be a ADHD candidate? Is she violent? What speech problems does she have? Is any of the speech difficulties due to lazy tongue? teeth displacement? I could go on and on, just based on the little information I have been given and worked with in young people. I applaude your willingness to learn more. The sooner you discover all the little dark corners and get them dusted out, the better opportunity she is going to have in her life and her growth potential and social development. Kids have a hard enough time in the world - when we as adults can depict the problems they have and offer some solutions, we give our children a better than average chance in life. Check with her ped and have her completely checked out - vision, hearing, the whole works. Good luck to you and God bless. (many of these tests are FREE and if anything is discovered, there are funds available in many states that will help the parents find resources for the child in the way of cash and people-help. )

Answer 2

I have an 8 yr old - born 4 weeks early, smart as a whip and couldn't care less if she bathed once a week, or walked around in her pajamas all day. That's the age, not the child. Almost every kid this age could care less about their clothes, shoes, hair, teeth, etc. Unless you have a girly-girl into fashion. Also keep in mind every child has a different personality - she may have one of the more uncommon ones - as my daughter does.
An extremely good book to read that may give you some insight into HER is "Nurture by Nature" I guarantee you after you read it - you'll OMG that's Her. I have been around mental illness all my life . My nephew has problems, and as I am much older and lived with him growing up I saw many danger signals. Your daughter does not sound as if she is ill (I dont' know her of course)
She just possibly has a different personality type and is misunderstood. She may need a different approach than another kid, as mine does. Of course if you continue to feel uneasy go with your gut instinct and take her to a doctor to be sure.

Answer 3

I would first ask how old she is as this can determine what is developmentally appropriate and what is not. 5 weeks premature can lead to some cognitive and emotional delays that may warrent testing by a child psychologist and/or the school system she is linked with to assess any delays. Children with developmental delays, even slight ones, tend to have issues with attention, emotional management, and sensory issues (which could explain why she may not wish to be clean; some children become highly sensitive to textures, temperatures, and touch), as well as some challenges with spatial coordination (possibly explaining why she does not recognize whether her shoes are on the right food). At the stage of development she was born during most of her general physical health has matured, but neurological and sensory issues may have beem immature at time of birth, hence the hearing deficits.

Early intervention is key, so I would highly recommend that you speek with her school for testing or pediatrician for a recommendation for a child psychologist. Most US states also have resources for parents and programs for early intervention (ages infancy to age 3), which are accessible through hospitals and state agency. It's important to recognize that she may also spontaneously grow out of her difficulties, but it is also very critical to ensure you have resources in place for her in case this does not happen. Educational services coordinated with medical and psychological services can make a huge difference!

Best,
Katie MacDowell, M.Ed.
Masters, Counseling Psychology
Doctoral Candidate, Clinical & Health Psychology

Answer 4

you are probably worrying too much. how old is the child? that can help in figuring out things. have you seen a specialist lately? if your doctor has found nothing physically wrong ask him to refer you to a counselor or psychiatrist who works with children her age. you may need counseling yourself for your anxieties. has a neurologist been consulted? sometimes they can help. relax a little. she is probably going through a phase.

Answer 5

It could be that your child is dealing with Autism, So what I would do if I were you is have her checked over by a trained child psychologist. I hope my answer helps you, Good Luck.

Answer 6

if you honistly that worried about it then take her to the dr. it sounds to me like she does have some problems, but you already know about them.

Answer 7

maby you should see a speacialist in that stuff