Depression is a mood disorder that can take the joy
from a child’s life. It is normal for a child to be moody or sad from time to
time. These feelings are expected after the death of pet or a move to a new
city. But if these feelings last for weeks or months, they may be a sign of
depression which requires professional help.
A common belief was that only adults could get
depression. There is evidence that show even a young child can have depression that
needs treatment to improve. According to the latest information on WebMD, as
many as 2 out of 100 young children and 8 out of 100 teens have serious
depression.
Nevertheless, children don’t get the treatment they
need. This is partly because it can be
difficult to tell the difference between depression and normal moodiness. Also,
depression may not look the same in a child as in an adult.
You can learn more about the symptoms in children if
you talk to your child. Ask how he or she is feeling. If you think your child
is depressed, talk to your doctor or counselor. The sooner a child gets help,
the sooner he or she will feel better.
A sign of depression in a child includes;
- feeling irritable, sad, withdrawn, or bored most
of the time
-Does not take pleasure in things he or she used to
enjoy
A child who is depressed may also ;
-Lose or gain weight
-Sleep too much or too little
-Feel hopeless, worthless, or guilty
-Have trouble concentrating, thinking, or making
decisions
-Think about death or suicide a lot.
The symptoms are often overlooked at first because
the problems and the symptoms are all part of the same problem. Also, the
symptoms may be different depending on the age of the child.
Both pre-school and grade school children may lack
energy and become withdrawn. They may show little emotion, seem to feel
hopeless, and have trouble sleeping. Often they will lose interest in friends
and activities they liked before. They may comp-lain of headaches or stomach
aches. A child may also be more anxious or clingy with caregivers.
Teens may sleep a lot or speak more slowly than
usual. Some teens and children with severe depression may see or hear things
that aren't there or have false beliefs.
Depression can range from mild to severe. A child
who feels a little “down” most of the
time for a year or more may have a milder ongoing form of depression called
dysthymia. In its most severe form depression can cause a child to lose hope
and want to die.
What parents need to know about pediatric depression
Depression is a real illness that affects both
adults and children. It can affect kids as young as 3 years old. It can even
affect babies who tend to exhibit symptoms such as unresponsiveness, lethargy, inconsolable
crying and feeding problems (Deborah Serani, PsyD).
Developmental
mile stones 1 – 3 months
Every child is different, and so is every parent’s
experience, but experts have a clear idea about the range of development from
birth to age 5 – and signs that a child might have a developmental delay.
Milestones
at one month
- *Makes jerky, quivering arm thrusts
- *Brings hands within range of eyes and mouth
- *Moves head from side to side while lying
on stomach
- *Head flops backward if unsupported
- *Keeps hands in tight fists
- *Strong reflex movements
Visual
and Hearing Milestones
- *Focuses 8 to 12 inches (20.3 to 30.4 cm)
away
- *Eyes wonder and occasionally cross
- * Prefers black and white or high-contrast
patterns
- *Prefers the human face to all other patterns
- * Hearing is fully mature
- *Recognize some sounds
- * May turn toward familiar sounds and
voices
Smell
and Touch Milestones
- *Prefers sweet smells
- *Avoid bitter or acidic smells
- *Recognizes the smell of his own mother’s breast
milk
- * Prefers soft to coarse sensations
- *Dislike rough or abrupt handling
Developmental
Health Watch
If
during the second, third or fourth weeks of your baby’s life there are are
signs of developmental delays, notify your pediatrician.
- * Sucks poorly and feeds slowly
- *Doesn't blink when shown a bright light
- * Doesn't focus and follow a nearby object
moving side to side
- * Rarely moves arms and legs, seems stiff
- *Seems excessively loose in the limbs, or
floppy
- * Lower jaw trembles constantly, even when
not crying or excited
- *Doesn't respond to loud sounds
Milestones at 3 months
Movement
Milestones
-
Raises head and chest when lying on
stomach
-
Supports upper body with arms when lying
on stomach
-
Stretches legs out and kicks when lying
on stomach or back
-
Opens and shuts hands
-
Pushes down on legs when feet are placed
on a firm surface
-
Brings hand to mouth
-
Takes swipes at dangling objects with
hands
-
Grasps and shakes hand toys
Visual
and Hearing Milestones
-
Watches faces intently
-
Follows moving objects
-
Recognizes familiar objects and people
at a distance
-
Starts using hands and eyes in
coordination
-
Smiles at the sound of your voice
-
Begins to babble
-
Begins to initiate some sounds
-
Turns head toward direction of sound
Social
and Emotional Milestones
-
Begins to develop a social smile
-
Enjoys playing with other people and may
cry when playing stops
-
Becomes more communicative and
expressive with face and body
-
Initiates some movements and facial
expressions
Developmental
Health Watch
Although
each baby develops in his/her own individual rate, failure to reach certain
milestones may signal medical or developmental problems requiring special
attention. If you notice any of the following warning signs in your infant at
this age, discuss them with your pediatrician.
- *Doesn't seem to respond to loud sounds
- *Doesn't notice his/her hands by 2 months
- *Doesn't smile at the sound of your voice
by two months
- *Doesn't follow moving objects with
his/her eyes after two or three months
- *Doesn't grasp and hold objects by three
months
- *Doesn't smile at people by three months
-
Cannot support his/her head well at
three months
- *Doesn't reach for and grasp toys by
three or four months
- *Doesn't babble by three or four months
- *Doesn't bring objects to his/her mouth by
four months
- *Begins babbling, but doesn't try to
imitate any of your sounds by four months
- *Has trouble moving one or both eyes in
all directions
- * Crosses his/her eyes most of the time (occasional
crossing of the eyes is normal in these first months)
- *Doesn't pay attention to new faces, or
seemed very frightened by new faces or surroundings