Challenging Children: Getting Professional Help

Get help in the right sequence

As important as the evaluation and diagnosis are, they are the beginning, not the end, of the process. Armed with this information, parents still need to understand what it means to have pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) or an anxiety disorder, or any of the other names given to the problems children may have. What does this label tell you about your child's needs? What can you expect in your child's future development? What services are available to help you address your child's needs? How can you locate those services? How can you evaluate the service and the person who delivers it when you do find it? While having received a diagnosis may feel like a stopping point, it is the time to take action--whether your child has a formal diagnosis or not.

Sequencing Professional Help
In general, the following sequence should help you make decisions about who to see first:

1. Deal immediately with serious worries about your child's life, safety, and control of your own behavior. Ask yourself:
   • Am I afraid my child may hurt himself or others? If so, get help now.
   • Is my child losing touch with reality, seeing or hearing things that aren't there, or experiencing an abrupt halt in development (such as sudden loss of language, sudden appearance of head-banging, etc.)?
   • Am I afraid I may harm my child?
2. If you receive a recommendation that medication might help, investigate that next.
3. Focus on behaviors that drive you crazy--specifically those that adversely affect daily routines. If things have deteriorated too far, family or individual therapy may be necessary.
4. Consider auxiliary services recommended such as occupational therapy, speech and language services, or physical therapies.
5. Depending on the child's need and family priorities, consider family or individual therapy, social-skills training, couples therapy, and education counseling. Evaluate each child on an individual basis.