Q: My 12-year-old son refuses to go to extra GSAT classes and he complains that the teachers are too tough in those extra classes. I cannot leave work and take him to another school. How can I convince him that the extra classes are convenient for me and that they will help him to get good passes?
A: You need to tell him exactly what you have stated in your note. That is, that it will not be convenient or easy for you to leave your job and take him elsewhere. Also, if he goes elsewhere, the teachers will be firm with him as they want him to do his best.
Talk with the teachers and find out if anything is happening which is making him uncomfortable, so that you can help him with that concern.
Q: I took my 15-year-old to a paediatrician last week, and he said she has post-traumatic stress disorder. She was in a car accident three years ago and did not show any signs of problems. A lot of X-rays were done at the hospital and we prayed with her a lot. She went back to school soon after and was getting ok marks. She was not the brightest child before the accident, so the marks were not a surprise. He recommended that we go to a psychologist. Can a psychologist really help?
A: Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD symptoms usually start soon after a frightening event but they may not happen until months or years later. They also may come and go over many years. If the symptoms last longer than four weeks, cause you great distress, or interfere with your work or home life, you probably have PTSD.
Sufferers re-experience the traumatic event or events in some way, tend to avoid places, people, or other things that remind them of the ordeal, and are very sensitive to normal life experiences. The psychologist will assess your child to determine if she does have PTSD and the treatment may include psychological and medical treatments.
Providing information about the illness, helping the individual manage the trauma by talking about it directly, teaching the person ways to manage symptoms of PTSD, are some of the usual techniques used in therapy for this illness.
Q: My five-year-old continues to shout a lot, even when playing with children who are close beside him. We talk to him and ask him to be quiet or we slap him sometimes and he just cries and goes on playing. Everything else is ok. He eats and sleeps well and is doing well at school. The teachers say he is loud at school too.
A: I recommend that you take him to a hearing specialist right away or call the Jamaica Association for the Deaf to get his hearing checked.
If after this is done and no hearing problems are seen, and the problem continues, you may want to see an ear, nose and throat specialist to determine if he has any physical problems. If none is identified, please see a psychologist.
Q: I have a cousin who turned two in July. He refuses to walk, he draws himself on the ground when he needs to move. When I try with him, his limbs start to shake and he wants to sit. In addition, he hardly talks and he cries for everything. The doctors, nurses say that he is OK. I don't think so. What should I do?
A: It is good to know that there are no physical problems. Does he follow directions and respond to simple commands correctly? If he does, his cognitive (thinking) skills are OK and, therefore, your cousin just may not see the need to walk at this time. If he gets a lot of attention each time he cries, he will cry a lot of the time. You can take him to a child psychologist who can assess him to determine if he has any psychological impairment.
Having problems with your children? Write to Ask the Doc, c/o The Gleaner, 7 North Street, Kingston, fax 922-6223 or email: helpline@gleanerjm.com.
