What Happens During an Autism Assessment for a Child or Young Person? An autism assessment is a careful, structured process designed to understand how a child or young person communicates, relates to other people, experiences the world and manages everyday life. Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental difference. It can affect children in very different ways, […]

What a Personalised NICE-Guideline Treatment Plan Should Include for a Young Person When a child or young person is experiencing difficulties with attention, social communication, mood, anxiety, behaviour or emotional wellbeing, a clear treatment plan can provide direction and reassurance. A personalised plan sets out what support is recommended, why it is appropriate, how progress

How a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Diagnosis Works: Symptoms, Assessment and Next Steps When a child or young person is experiencing emotional, behavioural or developmental difficulties, it can be hard to know what the symptoms mean or where to seek help. Changes in mood, anxiety, attention, sleep, behaviour, relationships or school performance may have

How Clinicians Assess Neurodevelopmental Differences Across Home and School Neurodevelopmental differences can look different depending on where a child or young person is and who is supporting them. A pupil may manage well in a structured classroom but become overwhelmed after school. Another may appear restless and impulsive at home while coping comparatively well in

What to Expect from a Comprehensive Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment A comprehensive child and adolescent psychiatric assessment is a detailed clinical evaluation of a young person’s emotional wellbeing, behaviour, development and mental health. It is designed to understand the difficulties they are experiencing, how these affect everyday life, and what support or treatment may

Understanding Behavioural Difficulties in Children: When to Seek a Psychiatric Assessment Children and young people can show challenging behaviour for many different reasons. Tantrums, emotional outbursts, aggression, defiance, withdrawal, impulsivity or difficulties following routines may occur at particular stages of development. They can also be a response to stress, changes at home or school, difficulties

Depression and Low Mood in Children and Teenagers: Symptoms, Assessment and Treatment Options Children and teenagers can experience periods of sadness, worry or frustration. These feelings are often a normal response to changes, disappointment, stress or loss. However, when low mood persists, becomes more intense, or starts to interfere with everyday life, it may be

What Happens After a Child or Young Person Receives a Diagnosis? Planning Support, Treatment and Ongoing Review Receiving a diagnosis of autism, ADHD or a mental health condition can bring a mixture of emotions. Some families feel relieved to have an explanation for difficulties that have been present for some time. Others may feel worried

OCD in Children and Young People: Recognising Symptoms, Assessment Steps and Evidence-Based Treatment Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a recognised mental health condition that can affect children and young people. It involves unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images or urges, known as obsessions, and repetitive behaviours or mental acts, known as compulsions. These experiences can be distressing, time-consuming

What Parents Should Expect During a Child’s Medication Assessment and Review When medication is being considered for a child or young person, parents often have questions about the assessment process, possible benefits, side effects and what happens after treatment begins. Medication should not be viewed as a quick or isolated solution. It is one part