Update: If 1 in 6 kids have a learning delay, what happens when they get to adulthood?

In our recent 4th July article it was discussed how 1 in 6 children are learning delayed and how many more are diagnosed with developmental, anxiety or bi-polar disorders. The article posed these statistics:

• 1 in 6 children (school age) are learning delayed.
• 1 in 150 children has an autism spectrum disorder.
• 1 in 95 of boys has an autism spectrum disorder.
• 7% of children seen at psychiatric facilities fit bi-polar disorder.
• 15,000 children each year are diagnosed with juvenile diabetes: that’s 40 children per day.
• As many as 3 million Americans may have type 1 diabetes.
• Between 16-33% of children and adults are obese.
• Infertility affects 1 in 6 couples.

And goes on to explain: “Learning delays encompass many different disorders including but not limited to: dyslexia, central auditory processing disorder, sensory processing disorders, ADD, ADHD, PDD, and other behavioral / learning disorders.  … In 2003 a federal study found that at least 425,000 American children under 18 had some form of autism, including 114,000 children under 5.  Talk About Curing Autism lists current data as an estimated 1 million in the US as having autism spectrum disorder, this figure does not include any of the letter disorders, JUST Autism. … In California there are currently two new cases recognized every day!

Bipolar disorder is also becoming more and more common in young children. Recently Newsweek ran a great article about the increase of childhood bipolar disorder. In the article a 7 year old boy with the disorder discusses his unhappiness, the various suicide notes he has written, and one attempt to take his own life. … To learn more on bipolar disorder go to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.”

The Associated Press published a story on December 1 2008, that may help us understand the bigger picture. Specifically, what happens to these children when they become young adults. Young adults who must enter the highly stressful and self-motivated world of college and employment. The challenges of just being in this more stressful position of advanced learning, single living, or even mantaining employment can obviously exasperate the stress on someone who is already struggling. The article makes a claim for 1 in 5 young adults having personality disorders. “The disorders include problems such as obsessive or compulsive tendencies and anti-social behavior that can sometimes lead to violence. The study also found that fewer than 25 percent of college-aged Americans with mental problems get treatment.” A depressing statistic for those with children, family members or friends having these particular issues.

“The study was released Monday in Archives of General Psychiatry. It was based on interviews with 5,092 young adults in 2001 and 2002. Olfson said it took time to analzye the data, including weighting the results to extrapolate national numbers. But the authors said the results would probably hold true today. … In the study, trained interviewers, but not psychiatrists, questioned participants about symptoms. They used an assessment tool similar to criteria doctors use to diagnose mental illness. …

Dr. Jerald Kay, a psychiatry professor at Wright State University and chairman of the American Psychiatric Association’s college mental health committee, said the assessment tool is considered valid and more rigorous than self-reports of mental illness. He was not involved in the study. …

Personality disorders showed up in similar numbers among both students and non-students, including the most common one, obsessive compulsive personality disorder. About 8 percent of young adults in both groups had this illness, which can include an extreme preoccupation with details, rules, orderliness and perfectionism. …

In both groups, about 8 percent had phobias and 7 percent had depression. Bipolar disorder was slightly more common in non-students, affecting almost 5 percent versus about 3 percent of students.” SOURCE MSNBC

If you or someone you know is struggling with a personality disorder seek help. There are multiple organizations available to assist you to maintain a less stressful life. You can start by contacting the Bipolar Help Center or speak with your college health center for a referral to a professional trained in these areas.

Make an adjustment: Stay healthy ~ Be Happy!

Call Dr Paul or Dr. Susan at 303.674.1500 or email office@fontanachiro.com

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