If you have a child, you already know how confusing behavior issues can be. What is normal childhood behavior? How can you tell normal boundary testing and independence from a behavioral disorder that needs treatment? Your pediatrician can help. Dr. Errol Keith Douglas at Gold Pediatrics in Rockville, MD, provides a wide range of pediatric medicine services, including evaluation and treatment of childhood behavioral disorders.

What You Need to Know about Childhood Behavioral Issues

Let’s look at 5 of the most common behavioral issues in children:

• Attention deficit disorder or ADD, which can lead to problems in school and at home
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) which has a hyperactivity component in addition to ADD
• Anxiety, which can lead to difficulty with friendships and problems enjoying life
• Depression, which can lead to chronic sadness and feelings of low self-worth
• A learning disability, which can lead to poor grades and difficulty learning new things

Any of these 5 behavioral issues can lead to problems throughout life, even when your child becomes an adult. Early evaluation by a pediatrician can lead to early treatment and a better outcome for your child. You should visit your pediatrician if your child is:

• Talking or blurting out comments excessively
• Having difficulty remaining still
• Frequently forgetting or losing things
• Having difficulty focusing on tasks
• Daydreaming frequently and not concentrating
• Frequently making mistakes
• Having difficulty making and keeping friendships
• Demonstrating a lack of respect for authority figures
• Threatening to harm themselves, other children, or pets
• Feeling unhappy or depressed most of the time
• Feeling anxious about social situations and school

Your pediatrician will begin with a behavioral screening, to determine treatment options to help your child. Some professional treatments for behavioral issues include:

• Behavioral counseling for your child
• Family counseling for all your family members
• Medication to help with focus and impulse control
• Dietary and activity modification to improve overall health

Want to Know More?

To find out more about signs of childhood behavioral issues and how our pediatrician can help, call Dr. Errol Keith Douglas at Gold Pediatrics in Rockville, MD. You can reach him in the office by calling (301) 517-9710, so call today.