Every fifth child shows behavioral problems

Every fifth child shows behavioral problems

29/03/2011

According to the Professional Association of Paediatricians (BVKJ) already shows one in five children in Bavarian day care centers behavioral problems. This mainly affects children between the ages of four and five years. Mental sufferings are also increasingly noticeable among elementary school students.

20 percent of kindergarten children show conspicuous behavior
More than 20 percent of all four- to five-year-olds show conspicuous behavior in Bavarian kindergartens. The association of paediatricians based on this statement on an analysis of the contract working community of health insurance funds in Bavaria (90 participating funds). During the evaluation period, a total of 4318 children were examined in a period between autumn 2009 and summer 2010. A total of 943 examined infants were identified as „showy“. „These results confirm our observations in practice. We see more and more children with developmental disorders, lack of concentration and emotional problems. The „new“ Diseases also pose enormous challenges to us paediatricians. It is not unusual for us to become a family psychologist - and that is why we are also setting new priorities in the education and training of pediatricians in Bavaria“, explained Dr. Martin Lang from Augsburg, Regional Chairman of the Professional Association of Pediatricians in Bavaria (BVKJ). During the regular check-ups U8 (4th year of age) and U9 (5th year of age), questionnaires were presented to educators. The questionnaire included topics such as social competence, fine motor skills, movement and body coordination as well as concentration skills of the children.

15 percent negative developments even among elementary school students
Not only toddlers are affected in the opinion of the medical association of social deficits. Also in the screening of children of primary school age, the „new clinical pictures“ frequently observed. In about 15 percent of the seven to eight-year-olds, clear deficits were found in the course of the check-ups (U10 and U11) with regard to social competence and emotional condition. „The questionnaires are filled out by teachers and parents - people who deal with children on a daily basis. In this respect, the result is already disturbing. We are not just seeing an increase in the so-called „ADHD children“ - So from hyperactive and often also unfocused children, who often have school problems - but also children with emotional problems and unfortunately also many who have difficulties in dealing with peers. This is already a big social problem“, warned Lang.

Recognize and treat new childhood diseases
In view of these findings, it has been decided in Bavaria to work together with the company health insurance funds to develop an offer that „new diseases“ recognizes early. Specialized is the treatment research offer on mental and social problems of the children. „The socio-paediatrics module that we have developed within the framework of the „BKK Strong Kids Contract“ In practice, we have the opportunity to study the emotional problems of children and develop solutions. The aim is to stabilize the children - and to give them so much emotional strength that a hospital stay is not necessary. Unfortunately, the number of children admitted to psychiatric clinics has increased dramatically in recent years“, explains Lang. With the further development of the pediatric supply, the Association of Paediatricians wants to counter the increase in mental illnesses in practice. „The so-called selective contracts give us the opportunity to react quickly to changes in the medical care of children and adolescents. Of course, this also increases the demands on our field of expertise - and that's exactly why we set corresponding priorities in our training events“, Lang continues.

Children suffer from increasing stress
The observations of the Children's Association of Adolescents essentially coincide with further studies. A Forsa survey, for example, concludes that every second student in Bavaria suffers from stress symptoms. During the representative survey, a total of 1,000 parents from all over Germany were interviewed for an assessment of their children's stress. It showed that the pressure to perform has continued, especially in schools. As a result, the interviewed parents stated that about 29 percent of the students in part suffer from significant concentration problems. Also, the children in Bavaria suffer more often from complaints such as headaches than children in the rest of Germany. Often, however, the school system is not the main cause of stress and mental suffering. On the contrary, among other things, the Techniker Krankenkasse recorded on the basis of an evaluation of internal patient data that medical prescriptions of medicines to increase the ability to concentrate increased rapidly. In this context, educators criticize the enhancement of drug performance. Instead, children need more opportunities for development and plenty of room for creativity. (Sb)

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Picture: Günter Havlena