Loading...
Classful

Mental health disorders in children are generally defined as delays or disruptions to their development.

They can occur for several reasons and affect their thinking, behaviors, social skills, and ability to regulate emotions; if you work in childcare or are near children regularly, you must understand these disorders, how to approach them, and what to look for. That’s why we wanted to look at one of the rarer disorders known as Reactive Attachment Disorder, or RAD for short. This article will provide an extensive guide to understanding what RAD is, what signs to look for, and how you can help.

Education resources

$2.00
$3.00
$2.99
$2.00
$2.50
$4.00
$9.99
$1.20
$1.50
-20% Off
$3.75

What reactive attachment disorder is

Reactive attachment disorder is a rare condition that means a child doesn’t establish healthy attachments with their parents or primary caregivers. Children with RAD do not have the important bonds formed with parental figures they need to receive affection and support well. They seem sad, fearful, or irritable and have a harder time interacting than most. This means that when they are upset, they are not comforted by adults’ attempts to make them feel better. RAD is rare and can happen to children who have been neglected or abused.

What are the symptoms of reactive attachment disorder

If you work around children, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with any significant signs you can look for that may suggest a child is suffering from reactive attachment disorder. Some of these signs are listed below:

  • Failure to smile
  • Being irritable when it’s unnecessary
  • Seeming sad and fearful, especially around caregivers
  • An adult comforting them doesn’t make them feel better
  • Regulating themselves better and calming down more easily when left alone
  • Not showing interest in or looking at other people around them
  • Not reacting when being held or picked up by an adult
  • Not laughing or playing interactive games such as peek-a-boo
  • Failure to seek support or assistance
  • Behavior problems
  • Watching others closely but not engaging in interaction

It is important to remember that many of these symptoms are similar/the same as some of the signs of autism spectrum disorder. However, a pediatrician will be able to establish the appropriate differences.

How is reactive attachment disorder diagnosed?

Awareness of any worrying signs and occurrences that suggest a child may be suffering from reactive attachment disorder is incredibly important to help appropriately assist with the child’s development. This is so that when you recognize these signs, you can ensure they get the help and support they need. It is incredibly important that they are diagnosed to receive the appropriate treatment and support. Children are only diagnosed with reactive attachment disorder between the ages of 9 months and 5 years, which is why it’s important to recognize the signs as soon as possible as the diagnosis window is not that big.

A doctor will initially rule out the possibility of autism, as we stated earlier, that they share similar symptoms. To be diagnosed, the child must exhibit clear sadness or fear and not respond when their caregiver tries to make them feel better. The child must have also experienced serious abuse or neglect or potentially multiple changes in caregivers at a young age.

It is also important to note that not all abused or neglected children develop reactive attachment disorders, so not all sufferers will need the same treatment.

What happens if RAD goes untreated

RAD is known to have long-lasting effects on sufferers, so a professional diagnosis and treatment plan is essential. It is suggested that these sufferers of RAD who did not receive appropriate treatment end up having issues in later life due to their neglect as a child. Some potential issues that may occur are:

  • Relationship problems
  • Issues with trust
  • Fear or expectation of abandonment
  • Anxiety around intimacy and vulnerability
  • Increased risk for substance abuse
  • Increased risk of developing physical and psychological problems
  • Resentment towards parenthood
  • Struggling to receive or give affection
  • Anxiety around touch
  • Struggling to ask for help can have many knock-on effects, including both mental and physical side effects
  • Risk for other disorders such as eating disorders, depression, anxiety, anger issues, problem in school

How is reactive attachment disorder treated?

Different things can be done to help children with reactive attachment disorder. Some of these involve professional help, whereas others can be done at home to help the child through adjustments to routine. Professional help, such as therapy, tends to involve both the child and the main caregiver, as children with RAD are so young. It usually combines a few different therapies, and some of these include:

  • Individual psychotherapy for the child and sometimes the caregiver
    Family therapy
  • Parenting training to teach parents how to help their child bond with them
  • Special education services are also able to help children with RAD

There are also changes to home life that can be made to achieve different goals that would help a child with RAD. Some of these are:

Making a child with RAD feel secure

Safety is the core issue for children with attachment issues, so correcting this behavior is key to setting new healthy bonds. To make a child with RAD feel secure and safe, it is recommended that you do the following things:

  • Set limits and boundaries
  • Take charge yet remain calm when the child is upset or misbehaving
  • Be immediately available to reconnect following a conflict
  • Own up to mistakes and initiate repairs
  • Try to maintain routines and schedules

Helping the child feel loved

Another issue of RAD is that a child who has not bonded early in life will struggle to show or receive love. This is an issue that can be corrected through adjustments made to their home life that will make them feel loved, as listed below:

  • Identify actions that feel good to your child
  • Respond to their emotional age
  • Help them to identify emotions and express their needs
  • Listen, talk, and play with your child

Children with reactive attachment disorder deserve a chance to establish healthy, trusting bonds in their early years to give them the best chance at happy adult life. That’s why it’s important for caregivers, childcare workers, or any profession that involves children. You can look for the signs and help get them the support they need.