An estimated 1 in 10 children and adolescents in the United States suffers from mental illness severe enough to cause some level of impairment. Fewer than 1 in 5 of these ill children receives treatment. This booklet contains answers to frequently asked questions regarding the treatment of children with mental disorders. Talk to your child's doctor. Ask questions and find out everything you can about the behavior or symptoms that worry you.
Every child is different and even normal development varies from child to child.
Sensory processing, language, and motor skills are developing during early childhood, as well as the ability to relate to parents and to socialize with caregivers and other children. If your child is in daycare or preschool, ask the caretaker or teacher if your child has been showing any worrisome changes in behavior, and discuss this with your child's doctor. The birth of a sibling may cause a child to temporarily act much younger. It is important to recognize such behavior changes, but also to differentiate them from signs of more serious problems. Problems deserve attention when they are severe, persistent, and impact on daily activities.