Developmental Delays

by North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center | Jan 19, 2021 | Problems We Address

Developmental Delays

Developmental delays refer to a group of conditions resulting from an impairment in physical, learning, language or behavioral areas. They begin during the developmental period in childhood, can impact daily functioning, and typically last into adulthood. Most delays are noted when a child fails to reach developmental milestones, such as walking or speaking, around the expected age. Some common developmental disabilities include ADHD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), cerebral palsy, hearing loss and learning disabilities.

Between 2009 and 2017, about one in six children ages 3 to 17 years old were diagnosed with a developmental disability. Diagnosis of developmental disabilities has increased from 2011 to 2017. Research has also indicated that children with developmental disorders are at a greater risk of developing mental health conditions.

North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center offers comprehensive diagnostics assessments by highly qualified teams of caring psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and mental health counselors with special expertise in diagnosing and treating children. Our Learning to Learn Center offers specialized screening, diagnosis and tutoring for children suspected of having learning and attention deficit problems and developmental disorders. For more information about our services, please call us at 516-626-1971.

Related Programs:

Learning to Learn Center

Sources:

CDC: Developmental Disabilities

Eating Disorders

by North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center | Jan 19, 2021 | Problems We Address

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are serious conditions that affect a person’s eating behaviors and related thoughts and emotions. There are many different types of eating disorders, but the most common are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder.

Anorexia nervosa symptoms may include extremely restricted eating, emaciation, distorted body image and an intense fear of gaining weight. Bulimia nervosa often consists of frequent and recurring episodes of eating large amounts of food followed by compensatory behaviors such as forced vomiting, use of laxatives or diuretics, fasting or excessive exercise. Symptoms of binge-eating disorder may include eating when you are not hungry, eating quickly, eating alone or in secret, feeling intense guilt about eating and obesity.

Eating disorders appear most frequently during adolescence or young adulthood. Rates are higher among females than males. Those with eating disorders are at an increased risk of suicide and medical complications. Eating disorders have the highest rate of mortality of any mental illness. If your child or teenager is suffering from an eating disorder, do not hesitate to seek help.

Mental health services are offered for children from birth through age 24 and their families at all three sites of North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center. These services include comprehensive evaluation, an individually tailored treatment plan that may include any combination of individual, family and group therapy, and, when indicated, medication management from a psychiatrist. All treatment plans require family consent and participation. For more information about our services, please call us at 516-626-1971.

Read more on our blog:

The Obsession with Being Thin

Talking About Weight with your Kids

A Loving Way to Discuss Weight

A Weighty Issue

Sources:

NIMH: Eating Disorders

Statistics & Research on Eating Disorders

Mayo Clinic: Eating Disorders

ANAD: Eating Disorder Statistics

Learning Disabilities

by North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center | Jan 19, 2021 | Problems We Address

Learning Disabilities

Learning disabilities can contribute to many difficulties for children and teenagers in school. Though learning disabilities and disorders can be difficult to classify, some of the most common disorders include dyslexia (difficulty with reading), dyscalculia (difficulty with math) and dysgraphia (difficulty with writing). Dyslexia is the most common, with over 2 million children in the United States receiving special education services for a reading disorder.

Children and teenagers with learning disabilities often need specific accommodations or extra help in school. The Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) ensures that children with learning disabilities are eligible for special education services or accommodations at school. If your child has a learning disability, contact their school about available accommodations and assistance.

North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center offers comprehensive diagnostics assessments by highly qualified teams of caring psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and mental health counselors with special expertise in diagnosing and treating children. Our Learning to Learn Center offers specialized screening, diagnosis, and tutoring for children suspected of having learning and attention deficit problems and developmental disorders. For more information about our services, please call us at 516-626-1971.

Related Programs:

Learning to Learn Center

Sources:

CDC: Learning Disorders in Children

Learning Problems in Teens

LGBTQ Issues

by North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center | Jan 19, 2021 | Problems We Address

LGTBQ Issues

LGTBQ is an acronym used to represent different sexual and gender identities. LGBTQ stands for Lesbian (a woman attracted other women), Gay (a man/woman who is attracted to other men/women, respectively), Bisexual (someone who is attracted to both men and women), Transgender (a person whose gender identity does not correspond with their birth sex), Queer (an umbrella term for someone in the LGBTQ community) and Questioning (someone who is questioning their sexual or gender identity). LGTBQ is sometimes written with a plus sign at the end, representing other sexualities and gender identities, including pansexual, polyamorous, non-binary, and more.

LGBTQ youth are at a higher risk for mental health issues than their non-LGBTQ identifying peers due to stigma and discrimination against their sexual or gender identities. Research has indicated that LGBTQ youth are more likely to suffer from depression, and LGBTQ youth are four times more likely to seriously consider suicide than their peers.

Studies have also demonstrated the positive impact that supportive home and school environments can have on LGBTQ youth mental health. Strong family bonds, safe schools and supportive adults can protect against depression and suicidal ideation in LGBTQ youth.

North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center offers a safe space of LGBTQ struggling with mental health issues and other difficulties related to their sexual or gender identity. The Guidance Center provides a combination of individual, family and group therapy for children, adolescents and young adults struggling with emotional, social or family issues related to their sexual orientation or gender identity. For more information about our services, please call us at 516-626-1971.

National Resources:

Trevor Project Lifeline: 1-866-488-7386

Read more in our blog:

Sexuality ‘Cheat Sheet’

He Said, She Said, They Said: A Look at Gender

Supporting LGBTQ Youth

A Welcoming Space for LGBTQ Clients

Sources:

HRC: Mental Health and the LGBTQ Community

Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders

by North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center | Jan 19, 2021 | Problems We Address

Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders

Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders refer to a group of mental health conditions that occur during pregnancy and the first year after giving birth. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) are the most common complication of pregnancy and childbirth. These disorders are more intense than the “baby blues,” which describes the common fatigue, sadness and worrying of new mothers after giving birth. Postpartum depression is the most common PMAD, but other examples include perinatal panic disorder, perinatal obsessive-compulsive disorder, postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder, perinatal bipolar disorder and postpartum psychosis.

Nearly one in seven new mothers experience significant symptoms of postpartum depression and other PMADs. Common symptoms of mothers experiencing such disorders include anger, sadness, irritability, guilt, withdrawal from loved ones, feeling distant from the baby, anxiety and sometimes thoughts of harming the baby or herself. Symptoms may first present themselves during pregnancy as well as after childbirth.

North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center offers the Diane Goldberg Maternal Depression Program, which provides rapid response and diagnosis for mothers suffering from maternal postpartum depression and other perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. For more information about our services, please call us at 516-626-1971.

Related programs:

Diane Goldberg Maternal Depression Program

Read more in our blog:

When It’s More Than the Average Baby Blues

Postpartum and the Pandemic

Katherine’s Story: Healing from Postpartum Depression

Ask the Question

Sources:

CDC: Depression During and After Pregnancy

Postpartum VA: Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders