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Child Behavior (Expert Forum)
4YO SIBLING W/ POOR LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT
Answered by
Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D. - Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Crisis Intervention
Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
This forum is for questions and support regarding child behavior issues such: Child Discipline (behavior management), Normal Child Development, Parent-Child Communications, Social Development
4YO SIBLING W/ POOR LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT
by Christopher Childs (CTheFutureshrink@aol, Nov 21, 2000 12:00AM
My sister is almost 4 years old and still can't make complete sentences good. She appears hyperactive, almost manic at times (e.g., can't sleep, "talking" [words we can't understand], inability to focus on one topic, etc.) I am concerned that she may be bipolar or AD/HD, possibly even autistic. I have a DSM-IV, and she has symptoms of all 3 disorders. My mother will not allow her to see a therapist or psychiatrist because of the pain I went through with them.
Could you please give me guidance on this issue?
Could you please give me guidance on this issue?
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D., Nov 21, 2000 12:00AM
, Nov 21, 2000 12:00AM
Dear Mr. Childs,
Four-year-olds shouldn't be expected to have too great a span of attention, so it's difficult to ascertain in a child so young if inattention is a problem. The same is true of such conditions as Bipolar D/O - this is almost impossible to diagnose with any precision in a pre-school child, though family history can be illuminating.
A logical place to start would be a Speech/Language evaluation. During such a process the Speech/Language professional would also be alert to the overall presentation of your sister, and might recommend additional professional evaluation. Dr. KDK
Four-year-olds shouldn't be expected to have too great a span of attention, so it's difficult to ascertain in a child so young if inattention is a problem. The same is true of such conditions as Bipolar D/O - this is almost impossible to diagnose with any precision in a pre-school child, though family history can be illuminating.
A logical place to start would be a Speech/Language evaluation. During such a process the Speech/Language professional would also be alert to the overall presentation of your sister, and might recommend additional professional evaluation. Dr. KDK
