School Problems

Children spend between 6 and 8 hours of their day in school. Due to the structure that school provides, sometimes problems that children have do not get recognized until they begin school. Examples of school problems are: - difficulty socializing with peers- being bullied- unable to follow directions- breaking the rules or not getting along with teachers. ADD/ADHD and School Phobia are also common problems that are noticed when children reach grade school ages.

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) or ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) is seen in approximately 4 percent of the population within the United States.. Symptoms common to attention deficit disorder are distractibility, impulsivity, hyperactivity, anxiety, and depression. These symptoms interfere with the child's ability to function normally in their day-to-day activities. About one-half to one-third of children who are diagnosed will continue to have some difficulties with ADHD during their adult life. Diagnosing this disorder can be difficult since it is common for many people have symptoms of this disorder to some degree. While the causes of this disorder are not fully understood, there are many available and effective treatments.

School Phobia is more than the normal mild reluctance children have to going to school at times. School Phobia is when a child frequently or consistently expresses ills that appear to clear up when it is evident that he or she does not have to go to school or when a child expresses an intense fear of school. These are significant symptoms that should be addressed. If the underlying issues are not dealt with, the symptoms get reinforced each time the child stays home from school and the problem gets more ingrained and/or worse. Therapy can help the family get to the root of the issue and improve the situation by finding effective ways to address the child's fear.