Assignment: Special Topics In Child

Assignment: Special Topics In Child
Assignment: Special Topics In Child
Select one of the following topics for the Discussion:
Adoption
Foster care
Gender dysphoria
Forensic issues
Impact of terrorism on children
Explain the psychological issues that may result from your topic.
Describe the most effective assessment measure that could be used, and explain why you selected this.
Explain the treatment options available for children and adolescents involved with your selected disorder.
Explain how culture may influence treatment.
Many mental symptoms can be mitigated and/or sustained in the setting of young children’s relationships.
Because of these connections, it’s critical to evaluate and maintain healthy relationships, as well as include the child’s primary caregiver(s) in the treatment plan.
Each link below addresses an important part of a young child’s relationship-centered world, from the intrauterine environment to adoption issues and the concept of joint mental and physical healthcare.
Mental Health During Pregnancy
Toxic Toxic Toxic Toxic Toxic Toxic Toxic Toxic Toxic
The developing fetus is completely reliant on his or her mother for nutrition and a safe environment during pregnancy.
This atmosphere should ideally be devoid of pollutants that could impede healthy growth and development.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case; the effects of some in utero exposures have been well established, but the exposures continue to be all too common.
In the United States, fetal alcohol exposure is still the most common preventable cause of intellectual impairment in children.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every ten pregnant women has consumed alcohol in the previous 30 days.
Symptoms in affected youngsters might present themselves in a variety of ways.
The most severe form of fetal alcohol syndrome comprises facial deformities, development delays, and abnormalities of the central nervous system, but many children are affected without all three of these symptom clusters.
The proposed Neurobehavioral Disorder Associated with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure criteria in DSM-5 detail neurocognitive, self-regulation, and adaptive functioning issues that may be linked to prenatal alcohol exposure.
Cigarettes are another well-known source of toxicity for the developing baby, notably in terms of limiting intrauterine growth, but they’ve also been related to neurobehavioral issues in children, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
It’s been difficult to fully comprehend the effects of illicit drugs, such as marijuana, on the developing fetus because many women who use these substances during pregnancy are also more likely to have used alcohol or cigarettes, despite the fact that these substances are also thought to pose risks.
Withdrawal symptoms in neonates, which are common after prenatal opiate exposure, may need longer hospital stays for newborns.
Environmental pollutants like lead have long been recognized to induce prenatal neurotoxicity, but compounds like Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates have recently come under fire for their ability to alter the natural activities of estrogen in both the mother and the fetus.
The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has released a Committee Opinion advising pregnant women to avoid these substances.
Prescription drugs, including those given to women with mental illnesses, can have an effect on the growing fetus.
Thankfully, high-quality research is occurring to better understand the impact of maternal psychiatric medication during pregnancy, allowing moms and mental health physicians treating them during pregnancy to make more informed decisions.
Excessive maternal stress and sadness have also been linked to negative consequences on the growing fetus, according to new research.
For example, there is mounting evidence that maternal stress can raise cortisol levels to the point where the fetus is also exposed to elevated cortisol levels.
Increased cortisol exposure in the womb may impact the infant’s epigenetic profile for many years to come.
Because of the many factors involved, some toxic exposures, such as those related to maternal stress, are difficult to prevent, whereas exposure to alcohol, cigarettes, and illicit substances should, in theory, be preventable through ongoing efforts to disseminate information to women of childbearing age.
The March of Dimes’ 12-month pregnancy idea (see below) provides a robust foundation for assisting would-be moms in thinking about pregnancy planning and avoiding hazardous substances prior to conception.
Of course, aiding women who are battling with addiction in finding treatment resources, whether before or during pregnancy, is a vital prevention initiative.
Intervening as soon as possible to provide supportive emotional and educational services to children who have already been impacted by previous exposure is critical.
Of course, the first step is to identify youngsters by utilizing established measures to test for developmental delays (a link should be here to the page about screening and assessment tools for young children).
They should be referred to Early Intervention programs before the age of three or to the Committee for Preschool Special Education between the ages of three and five to assess their needs for services.
This type of referral should be part of every child’s treatment plan.
A loving/nurturing/stable family environment, as well as the absence of violence, have been identified as additional protective variables that can help lessen the effects of fetal alcohol exposure.
Please see the following resources for more information on the themes mentioned above:
Link to the March of Dimes
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The National Organization for the Study of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS) is a non-profit organization
Prenatal Substance Abuse: Short- and Long-Term Effects on the Exposed Fetus Link, American Academy of Pediatrics Technical Report
Link between the National Center for Substance Abuse and Child Welfare and the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare
Early Toxic Substance Exposure Damages Brain Architecture Link (Harvard University Center on the Developing Child)
Link to Early Intervention Resources