As educated consumers, living in a culture which favors early detection and prevention over delays in one’s effort to intervene, it can be hard to determine just when the right time to bring a child in for a professional assessment might be.
A recent article featured in The New York Times tackles just this issue. Lead blogger at Motherlode and author of the column, New Parent Old Parent, Kj Dell’Antonia, asked the opinion of parents who’ve gained first-hand experience on the matter.
“There must have been a moment,” Dell’antonia posited, “A point when the ordinary seemed to tip over into the extraordinary and it became clear that reaching out would help.”
At the top of their list, sat concerns shared by parents and clinicians, alike. Signs that led parents to seek outside help included the level of distress a child experienced (i.e. mention of harm to self or others, disruption to the child’s ability to function day-to-day (i.e. can their child attend school comfortably and learn, socialize with peers, and feel good about themselves at home amongst both parents and siblings).
Here at Think: Kids, we know a child who struggles requires a lot of parents. If parental stress is high, marital conflict is palpable, and/or sibling relationships are strained and begin to take a toll on the quality of family life, a professional assessment can provide the guide needed to help navigate the family in a different direction.
Whether or not treatment is indicated, it can be a great relief to learn what is (or what is not) going on with your child. As one mother suggested, “If you are considering it, you should act on it because that means something is out of whack.” Her point is well-taken.
Check out the full article below and tell us your thoughts!
