After reading the Newsweek article on bipolar disorder in children that both Furious Seasons and CP&P write about this week -- and please read them as they critique the article far better than can I -- I recall a child I was called to consult on years ago. This little guy was 4 and the nurse in his school was certain he had childhood schizophrenia. He had echolalic speech (Echolalia is the repetition of vocalizations made by another person) and made bizarre hand motions when he spoke, both of which are among the indicators for autism and childhood schizophrenia. I made a home visit and I saw a child who did indeed exhibit these odd behaviors But something about him didn't seem to fit those rather dire diagnoses. There was something in the way he looked at me and made eye contact with me that didn't fit. So on as a wild shot, I ordered a hearing exam by an audiologist. And lo and behold, it turned up a 75% loss in both ears. His speech and hand motions were also common in deaf children.
So I was thinking of him as I read about Max in the Newsweek article, Max who now at age 10 has been on 38 different psychiatric medications which have had who knows what effect on his brain development. And I wonder what would have happened to that little boy I saw years ago if he turned up today presenting the same symptoms. Would anyone think to look for horses instead of zebras? Or would he, like Max, be submitted to the none-too-tender mercies of medications not even certified for use in children?
Those years ago, there were very few psych meds in use and even fewer with children. Without the hammer of medication, every symptom was not a nail.
I wonder what was wrong with Max in the first place, back before he was "treated"?