When reading a child’s profile or a child’s history prior to placement may have you reading terms you are unfamiliar with. This series will help you with some of the things you may read.

Part 1 – Disabilities and disorders

Cerebral Palsy – Cerebral Palsy, or CP, is a disease that affects body movement and the muscular system. CP is a brain disorder caused before or near the time of birth. The brain disorder or damage is what causes the muscular problems. There is no known cure at this time but education and therapy can help with day to day functioning.

Cognitive Delays – Cognitive delays were previously referred to as mental retardation. As with many other disorders, there are varying degrees of severity. Some people with Cognitive Delays are able to function on their own, maintain a job as well as their own residence. Other children will require life long care and will never be able to live independently. It is important to talk with the child’s case worker to determine exactly the level of delays and what the future prognosis for the child is.

Co-Morbid Diagnoses – This is not a disability or disorder in and of itself, but it may be listed in a child’s profile. This simply means that the child has multiple diagnoses and could require extensive care or a specialized mental health practitioner. It is not uncommon for children with trauma backgrounds to have multiple diagnoses. For example, a child who has been abused will likely have PTSD, but could also have OCD or panic attacks. (See blog on anxiety.)

Depression – Depression is a very treatable condition and one that is losing some of the negative stigma associated with mental health. If a child has depression listed, this is not simply referring to a child who is sad, but rather an actual diagnosis of clinical depression. The symptoms can include fatigue, irritability, difficulty concentrating, suicidal thoughts, or change in appetite. Depression is treatable with medication and/or therapy. For a full list of symptoms and information, see the National Institute of Mental Health website.

Developmental Delays – Developmental Delays are different from Cognitive Delays. This diagnosis is given when a child does not meet milestone developmental stages such as sitting, walking, speaking, etc. It could be a sign of other disorders, or can be mild and helped with physical, occupational or speech therapy. We did therapy with Mackenzie. Because of her loss of sight in one eye, developmental milestones that involved sight or balance were delayed for her. With therapy, she was able to learn these things and catch up developmentally.

Down Syndrome – Children born with Down Syndrome have an extra chromosome in their bodies. The extra chromosome causes physical differences in the child’s body as well as potential Cognitive Delays. As with Cognitive Delays, the degrees vary greatly. People with Down Syndrome may suffer from health conditions such as heart defects, hearing loss, and low resistance to infection.

Drug Exposure – Drug Exposure refers to a child whose birth mother used drugs of some kind during the pregnancy. The diagnosis itself does not give an indication as to the degree of drug use or type of drug(s) used. Drug exposure can cause delays such as developmental delays or extreme Cognitive Delays. A full evaluation by a physician with experience in diagnosing drug exposed children will give you the best assessment as to what your child may face in the future.



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