Behavioral Interventions Explained
Behavioral interventions come to the rescue to provide cost-effective assistance for parents of troubled adolescents. Perhaps your child is suffering from a lack of concentration or is exhibiting inappropriate behavior, as young as pre-school age. Or maybe a recent divorce, move or other event is affecting your child adversely. In the most serious cases, teens turn to drugs, alcohol, sex or violence to compensate for emotions they’re lacking. The best way to remedy the situation is to get help early, utilize all resources and have a family intervention to ensure a strong support system.
Often, children who need a behavioral intervention suffer from ADHD, autism, dyslexia or another pervasive developmental disorder. An early intervention program is the key to helping the child overcome natural difficulties and find studying techniques that work. The public school system generally only focuses on one particular learning mode, which leaves many students feeling “stupid” or frustrated. By teaching the student more about their learning needs and focusing on self-empowerment, as well as skill development, the students will begin to learn their way at their own pace and will develop a renewed interest in school. A behavioral intervention can do more than just prevent anger or hyperactive outbursts in school. It can pave the way for your child’s future and instill a sense of pride and accomplishment.
There are other types of behavioral interventions as well. For example, some can help obese children get on the right track and begin living a healthier life. Dr. Teresa Quattrin, a UB professor of pediatrics, writes: “Obesity comes with a myriad of other serious health conditions, including hypertension, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and low self-esteem, so it’s imperative that we find tools that can prevent and treat overweight in a clinical practice setting early on.” At the University of Buffalo in NY, primary care physicians are conducting tests to see if a 24-month intervention can combat child obesity. The focus will be on increasing fruits and vegetable consumption, minimizing junk food, increasing physical activity and educating families on behavioral modification techniques that promote healthy living.
Evidence suggests that pre-natal behavioral interventions can be extremely helpful for pregnant women who smoke, drink, suffer from depression, or are victims of intimate partner violence. These risks can cause developmental disorders with your baby and may also lead to post-partum depression for the mothers. These intervention programs are ultimately very successful, with 90% of participants reporting a significant difference in their situation, according to one 2008 intervention study.
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Tags: ADHD, Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, Behavioral Interventions, Child and Adolescent, Disorders, Mental Health, Postpartum depression
