Signs & Symptoms of Childhood Mental Disorders

Based on the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine’s recent report, up to one in five U.S. children can experience a mental disorder in a given year. America as a country spends an estimated $247 billion each year on childhood mental disorders. Conditions are expressed differently and will vary some from child to child. Below are some common signs and symptoms of the most prominent mental health concerns in children today.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Signs of Childhood ADHD:

  • Has difficulty waiting their turn

  • Interrupts others

  • Talks excessively

  • Is on the go or acts as if they are run by a motor

  • Fails to pay close attention to details/makes careless mistakes

  • Listens poorly when spoken to directly

  • Has difficulty sustaining attention for long periods of time

  • Easily becomes distracted

  • Can focus attention on things like TV or video games

  • Loses things necessary for important tasks

  • Has poor follow through on instructions

  • Has difficulty playing quietly or engaging in leisure activities

  • Often has difficulty making and keeping friends due to bossiness, or child’s intolerance for others

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Signs of ODD:

  • Loses their temper

  • Argues with adults

  • Actively defies or refuses to comply with adults

  • Deliberately annoys others

  • Blames others for their behaviors and mistakes

  • Is angry or resentful

  • Is spiteful and vindictive

Major Depression

Signs of Childhood Major Depression:

  • Has sleep or appetite changes

  • Has thoughts of death or dying

  • Expresses wishes to harm self or others either written, verbally or through drawings

  • Has feelings of being “blue” or sad*Note: in children and adolescents, irritability is more common than expressed feelings of sadness

  • Has low self-esteem: calls self “stupid”, “bad”, “ugly”, etc.

  • Cries a lot

  • Has slowed physical responses or increased motor agitation

  • Gains or loses a significant amount of weight

  • Refuses or has reluctance to attend school

  • Doesn’t care or lacks motivation to complete school work

  • Has a sudden drop in grades

  • Withdraws from family and friends

  • Loses pleasure in previously enjoyed activities

  • Has unexplained physical symptoms, such as headaches, stomach aches

  • Is easily fatigued

  • Appears lazy

  • May engage in risk-taking behaviors with little thought to consequences

  • Has extreme sensitivity to failure or rejection

It is important not to diagnose any mental health disorder without the help of a trained mental health professional. Please use this only as a guideline.

Avenues of Counseling and Mediation, LLC has many compassionate and experienced counselors who work in our Medina and Akron, Ohio locations who are trained in child and play therapy techniques.  Most work with as young as five years of age.

Nicki Masters