Exceptional needs children

EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS Exceptional Needs Children Word Count: 500 (2 pages) Question1—-Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder and Conduct Disorder are behavior disorders that affect children’s lives both socially and cognitively since they have difficulty understanding social rules. Imagine growing up unable to control behavioral impulses and not understanding why others react as they do to your actions! Children with these disorders are often incarcerated if they do not receive early intervention services when they are in elementary school.
1. What are some social problems that children with behavior disorders might have as a result of their inability to control their behaviors?
Children with behavior disorders are much more likely to be misunderstood by their peers if there is some kind of communication that is not received well by either end, which could escalate into a dramatic situation of some type. It’s important that young children who have behavior disorders are appropriately treated for their behavioral issues with good medication management per the referral of a psychiatrist. It may seem unusual for a child to be medicated for such a thing, but really, the importance is prevention in terms of helping the child best be adjusted. Adjustment periods are important for kids.
2. According to your reading, what are some strategies that might be used to help these children to learn to control their impulsive behaviors?
Strategies that might help children control their compulsive behaviors include:
Counting to ten before saying anything when angry. Counting to ten will help the youngster possibly realize that he or she is not as mad at someone as he or she is at something.
Teach the child to think before speaking. It’s easy to be misunderstood, but if a child knows how to think through what he or she is going to say, transitions for the child will be much easier.
Before a child touches an object, make sure that he or she is “ centered,” or focused. Teaching a youngster how to be mindful will go a long way in terms of helping children control their behaviors which might be considered more impulsive.
Have the child attend religious services. If one teaches a child that there are moral consequences for his or her actions, it will give the child a firm sense of self and the basis for how to act in society for a lifetime. Societal norms are usually dictated for children; they must adapt.
Question 2—Conduct Disorder
Marcia: Fifteen-Year-Old School Drop-Out. Marcia is a client of yours assigned because she was arrested for participating in an attempted breaking and entry incident last week. This is her fourth arrest and due to her age, you are concerned that if she does not change her behaviors now, she will end up in adult prison soon. You read her record and find out that she has been diagnosed with ADHD. She has not attended school all year and has not been home with her parents for the last two months. When you ask her about her goals, she says that she has none. Further, when you ask about her feelings about being arrested, she tells you that she has not done anything wrong, and hates you for interfering in her life.
As a counselor trained in working with children and adolescents with behavioral disorders, you write your summary of your suggestions for helping Marcia to develop some strategies for managing her behaviors.
Marcia needs to take the following action plan:
Apply for government assistance (Medicare and Medicaid).
Ensure that she has a place to stay where she could live rent-free or pay nominal rent.
Ensure that Marcia can take care of her personal and financial needs.
List your suggestions and explain how you think they can help.
Marcia should get the proper medication she needs in order to control her ADHD so that she will stop being relatively aggressive. It is important for her to also learn medication management and to follow her doctor’s orders exactly, otherwise she could be at risk for possibly developing bipolar disorder in her 20’s if she has an emotional breakdown.
What reasons do you think Marcia would give you when asked why she dropped out of school or left her parents’ home?
Marcia might not be honest. She might just say that her parents were bad people and that no one at school cares about her. Essentially, many people have given up on her and are willing to let her fall through the cracks. This isn’t right.
How does having a behavior disorder relate to the development of social skills?
Having a behavior disorder may limit Marcia’s future ability to get a job and thus have somewhat of a social life. According to SAMHSA (2011), “ Those [adults] who do [have a substance abuse problem]…may face a complex array of economic, behavioral, and physical health problems that may impede their recovery. According to 2009 data…approximately 121, 000 substance abuse treatment admissions aged 18 to 64 were not in the labor force because of a disability” (pgh. 1).
REFERENCES
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2011). Retrieved 22 Oct 2011 at:
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