Mental Health Misdiagnoses In Children

Worried about your child’s mental health? The best thing to do is to visit a licensed professional for help. Diagnosing mental health issues can be tricky and involves subjective elements. The psychiatrist or psychologist performing the exam will ask a series of questions, gauge behaviors, and make the diagnosis based on symptoms.

Because of this symptom-based approach, mental health misdiagnoses in children happens often and they are treated with the wrong plan. This may lead to prolonged and unnecessary distress. As a parent, there are ways to advocate for your child and confirm the real cause has been identified. The foremost one is to educate yourself on the symptoms, what they could mean, and when to seek a second opinion.

Common Mental Health Misdiagnoses in Children

There are common symptoms children exhibit that cause concern for parents, teachers, or guardians. Here are a few examples of symptoms which can be misinterpreted in children and potentially lead to a mental health misdiagnosis.

Inattention ¬— commonly diagnosed as ADD or ADHD

Kids who cannot focus, become easily distracted, or frequently daydream are labeled as inattentive. Often, parents and clinicians will attribute this inattention to attention deficit disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder as it is one of the classic symptoms.

It’s important to understand that inattention is not strictly due to ADD/ADHD. It could be caused by poor sleep, anxiety, food sensitivities, or a head injury. Certain learning disorders or mental health conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), can also lead to difficulty concentrating. Inattention can even be caused by outside influences, such as exposure to environmental toxins.

Disruptive behavior ¬— commonly diagnosed as ODD or IED

Raising children who are angry, argumentative, or prone to fits of rage is challenging to say the least. During an evaluation, doctors will study why these kids remain so oppositional or short-tempered despite having reached the point where they should have “grown out” of such disruptive behaviors. In recent years, this analysis has increasingly led to the diagnosis of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) or intermittent explosive disorder (IED).

However, children exhibiting these behaviors or emotional states can be doing so for other reasons. As with inattention, disruptive behavior may be caused by food sensitivities, OCD, or head injuries. It can also be linked to a certain type of ADD/ADHD, such as overfocused ADD, which may cause kids to be oppositional. These behaviors could also be rooted in diet. For instance, a high-glycemic diet — eating too many sweets — causes blood sugar levels to repeatedly spike and then crash. This cycle has been shown to increase feelings of anxiety and irritability in kids.

Restricted speech ¬— commonly diagnosed as ASD

Younger children who experience a severe lack or delay in the development of spoken language are commonly diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. This happens because it is one of the most recognizable signs of the developmental disorder. On the other hand, there are instances where restricted speech is not caused by this condition. One such instance is selective mutism.

A type of anxiety disorder, children with selective mutism may be talkative at home but antisocial or uncommunicative at school. They may also “shut down” when being spoken to or avoid eye contact. These behaviors could lead school staff members to become concerned and possibly jump to the conclusion of them being on the spectrum.

Advocating for Your Child

If your child is exhibiting inattention, disruptive behavior, restricted speech, or another concerning symptom, it’s essential to reach out to a professional as soon as possible. That way, your child has access to early intervention resources, whether it’s autism behavior therapy, speech therapy, or other treatments designed to help your child flourish.

Want to learn more about mental health misdiagnoses in children? Please see the accompanying resource for further information.

Author bio: Suzy Christopher, LCSW, is Director and a co-founder of MySpectrum Counseling & Coaching. She has been serving in clinical social work and leadership roles since 2002.