A summer guest of EarlyStories, Susan Sawyers, had a chance to participate in a radio discussion recently that focused on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the lives of young children, and its impact on their behavior and ability to succeed in school.
It turns out that the younger the child is at the time of the trauma, the more likely the child’s nervous system will be reset to be extra-responsive to stress since the nervous system develops so fast in the early years. Things like dog bites and near-drowning are major causes of PTSD but child maltreatment is also near the top of the list.
PTSD can lead to impulsive behavior and learning difficulties. It may also affect his or her ability to concentrate, which has implications for success in school.
The experts on the BAM! Radio broadcast, including Dr. Patricia Van Horn and Susan J. Grosse, spoke with host Rae Pica about ways to identify and manage PTSD in children.
You can listen to the show here.