When a child fails to experience safe, secure and nurturing attachments early in infancy there is clear evidence in their psychological development and their behavior, however the damage is usually even more serious and includes brain damage as well as developmental problems. Many children who are removed from their biological families and placed for adoption were drug and alcohol exposed before birth. Abuse and neglect can hinder the development of a babies brain.
Children placed in foster care may have formed unhealthy attachments with biological parents who were not able to meet their child’s needs. Dealing with grief and loss and being placed into a normal family can be an overwhelming experience for a child, and children who Lack Normal Attachment may have several Cognitive and Developmental Problems in addition to the obvious psychological issues and behavioral problems.
Cognitive Problems may include:
- A child may have trouble with the basic concept of cause and effect.
- A child seems to have problems with logical thinking.
- A child appears to have a confused thought process.
- A child has difficulty thinking ahead.
- A child with an impaired sense of time.
- A child has difficulty with abstract thinking.
Developmental Problems May Include:
- A child seems to have difficulty with auditory processing.
- A child may have difficulty expressing self well verbally.
- A child may have gross motor problems.
- A child may have delays in fine-motor adaptive skills.
- A child may have an inconsistence level of skill in all of the above areas.
Its important to remember that most children can heal from attachment difficulties and disorders with time and love. In some cases children with serious attachment disorders will need specialized therapy and treatment. Please look for the future Attachment Disorder Blogs.
Special Needs and Adoption-Related Terms:
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For more information about parenting special needs children you might want to visit the Families.com Special Needs Blog and the Mental Health Blog. Or visit my personal website.