Children With Disabilities Face Psychological Challenges

Children with developmental disabilities like learning disabilities often have problems that go far beyond those experienced in reading, writing, math, memory, or organization. For most of the children strong feelings of frustration, anger, sadness, or shame can lead to psychological difficulties such as anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem, as well as behavioral problems such as substance abuse or juvenile delinquency. According to the researchers, these congenital problems can be far more devastating than the academic challenges themselves. Although the severity and duration of the psychological difficulties of a child may vary as she grows up, such issues can find their way into and through adulthood.

A number of leading experts in the field of developmental disabilities have researched the psychological difficulties often experienced by children with developmental disabilities and have offered suggestions to parents on ways to help protect their children from developing these problems. There can be various types of psychological problems may affect kids with developmental disabilities and their possible causes. There are also some warning signs given by the researchers to the parents that should look for and direct them to some approaches that can support their child's psychological well-being.

To be most effective in supporting the disabled child, it can help to understand some presumed underlying reasons for the psychological and emotional challenges he/she may face. Although there are a number of medical theories on why kids with developmental disabilities may develop these problems, there are two often cited explanations. Firstly it is not difficult to notice why children with developmental disabilities are at greater risk for developing psychological difficulties if one considers the repeated failure they experience as they fight their way through the educational system, which may misunderstand or ignore their needs.

Despite the intense efforts of the child and adult promptings to try harder, children with developmental disabilities may receive little positive feedback. Their academic struggles and consequent failures are often met with disapproval by teachers, peers, and parents. Such reprehensible disapproval can take the form of negative labeling of a child as slow, lazy, or dumb. Rather than sensible developing of a sense of pride in their accomplishments, children with developmental disabilities may end up in a quagmire of frustration and shame. There are a number of psychological, emotional, and behavioral difficulties experienced by children with learning disabilities, according to the findings of a number of research studies. The number of different problems experienced by kids with developmental disabilities, the descriptions of research findings is carefully worded to indicate how strong the research evidence is for each problem. Such as research and studies may only suggest some of the findings because there is a lack of conclusive evidence. For other type of problems, the word shows is used to describe findings because there is a group of studies and surveys that all come up with the same conclusion.

Low self-esteem is a common psychological issue for kids with developmental disabilities. The psychologists have categorized the signs of low self-esteem in kids as either direct or indirect. Direct indicators of psychological problem include words or actions that suggest that a child lacks self-confidence, is overwhelmed by challenges facing him, or has little hope for future success. If people are worried that their child may be experiencing psychological difficulties, should discuss the concerns right away with their pediatrician, family physician, or a mental health professional.

• Janny Raines
• 08/02/2009, 12:59 PM
• 0 Comments