Diabetes is one of the most common chronic disorders in children. Children usually are not able to administer their own medication, and this is where an issue can arise. Diabetes therapy focuses on the metabolic system, and the nutrition intake to control diabetes. Controlling your nutrition can control long term issues that may present themselves. There is technology that can improve the care for someone that has diabetes, but they are very expensive and not covered by some insurances. Children with diabetes can grow to be hypo-unaware when their sugar is low. This can be very dangerous, and it can lead to mortality. It is important that children with diabetes are aware when they are low or high, because they can both be dangerous. They need to be taught to measure the amount of insulin that they need due to their blood sugar levels. Diabetes does not have a cure, what it has is treatment that is vital in making sure that the person stays alive. A lot of the children in the hospital that I am going to do the evaluation on have diabetes as part of their illness, along with a mental disorder. 

Gemma L. Unwin, Biza Stenfert Kroese, & Jessica Blumson. (2018). An Evaluation of a Mental Health Promotion Programme to Improve Emotional, Social and Coping Skills in Children and Young People Attending Special Schools. Frontiers in Education, 3, Frontiers in Education, 01 November 2018, Vol.3.

            In order for a child to do good in the future, it is needed that they are doing good in the present. The child’s, emotional, physical, and psychological health are very important in their development. Coping skills can reduce stress, better negative behaviors, and improve self-esteem. Coping skills is doing an activity that leads to the person calming down. It is important that everyone is aware of what coping skill, works for them in order to use it at a difficult time.

One of the major things that needs to be taught to children with disabilities, is communication. This is something that can be done in the school system. Teachers in a special education classroom, have to manage behaviors; for this reason, they are usually provided with classroom assistants to ensure that the class flows smoothly. In special education classrooms, it is important that the teacher knows what coping skill works best for the students, this way it can be provided if needed. Coping skills are one of the things that are discussed in psychoeducational groups that are held for the children at my site.

Jovanovic Maja. (2015). Behaviors and Attitudes About Body Image and Eating Disorders              Among Adolescent Females in Kragujevac. Serbian Journal of Experimental and Clinical Research, 16(3), 235-239.

            There is an increase in the number of teens and young adults that suffer from eating disorders. The numbers are rising by about 4-5 %. It can be that these kids feel that they are under pressure which can lead them to having the eating disorders. Eating disorders can be bench eating, this is when they eat a lot and then they throw up. There is anorexia which is when they refuse to eat. There is bulimia which is when they eat and then they throw up. There are also people that will eat and then throw up in their mouth and then eat it again. This can cause damage to their throat due to the acids in one’s stomach. There can also be damage to their teeth due to the constant throw up that is in their mouth. Even constantly over eating can be considered an eating disorder. It is important to have a balance when it comes to nutrition. About 1/5 of the children at the hospital that I am going to evaluate have an eating disorder. 

Lai, M., Lombardo, M., & Baron-Cohen, S. (2014). Autism. Lancet (London,            England), 383(9920), 896-910.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition. It causes difficulties in social communication and repetitive behaviors. There is impaired social cognition, executive dysfunction, and not the typical processing. There are various assessments that are performed to diagnose autism. Drugs can reduce behaviors, but they do not improve social communication. It is important that individuals with autism have a supportive environment. It is actually said that autism is more common in males than females. Children with autism are usually diagnosed after the age of 3-4; yet with the studies and the tests that are in place now it is said that they are being diagnosed as toddlers. Kids with autism have decrease response, decrease imitation, verbal delay, repetitive behaviors, moto delay, and not steady temperament. By knowing that your child is going through one of these, it can mean that they have autism. Overall, it is important that children get treatment and therapy as soon they are diagnosed to try to improve their social skills. At the hospital that I am evaluating, there are several units that have autistic patients. This includes verbal and non verbal patients. 

Lewis, Catherine E., Thomas, Kevin G. F., Dodge, Neil C., Molteno, Christopher D., Meintjes, Ernesta M., Jacobson, Joseph L., & Jacobson, Sandra W. (2015). Verbal Learning and Memory Impairment in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 39(4), 724-732.

Fetal alcohol syndrome is when the mother consumes alcohol while she is pregnant with the child. This can cause brain damage and growth problems. The consequences of fetal alcohol syndrome are not reversible. The brain damage can cause, the child to not be able to cope with feelings, they can have malformation in the face, learning disabilities, heart defects, bone malformation and many other things that differ case by case. When a woman drinks alcohol, the alcohol passes through the placenta to the baby. Usually FAS can be detected by heart defects. Some of the things that can be done to treat FAS is anti-depressant medications, behavioral training and counseling. Even things like yoga and exercise. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can even affect the baby in the beginning weeks. It is important to try to diagnose this in time, to try to get the best treatment for the child. There is a unit on the hospital, that has children that FAS. 

Miller, H., Juniper, T., Reid, P., Lloyd, C., Goodson, A., & Rose, M. (2015). G463(P)Determining the health needs of children with special educational needs. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 100(Suppl 3), A194.

Children with disabilities need a lot of care. This can include therapy. Therapy can be ABA therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, family and individual therapy. The schedule of a child with disabilities is very hectic. They also have nutritional needs, that they usually have to go to a nutritionist about. There is also their doctor that they have to go see. Disabilities usually come with a lot of health issues. There is also the mental health part that can include a whole program on its own. The schooling that these children are getting is very important for their futures. It is important that they are given the appropriate tools in order to succeed in the future. There are several ways that the children can be treated. There is out patient and in-patient care. The type of care is determined based on the severity on what the child is currently going through.  Overall, the hospital tries to give overall care to its patients; targeting different things that the patient needs. 

Reddy, B., Azeem, M., Smiles, J., & Carrabetta, L. (2016). Reduction in medication expenditure: Review of strategies at a children’s psychiatric facility. European Psychiatry, 33, S550.

With the rise of the cost of medications for psychiatric patients, it can be difficult for families to attain the medications. Sometimes, hospitals try to reduce the amount needed for psychiatric medications in order to maintain expenditure low for the hospitals. A lot of the times the goals for the physician is to have the least amount of medication needed for the patients. Sometimes this can be something positive because, the child/patient is able to live a better life without so many medications. Other times, the lack of these medications can cause complications. It is important for the doctors to access the patient individually rather than overall. Hospitals have put plans in place to reduce the cost of mediations. Some, of the things in place are monthly reviews of the cost, returning unused drugs, trainings to only order what is needed, and the most important keep track of the medications that are being administered to the patients. One of the goals, at the hospital that I am evaluating is reducing the medications that the children are on.

Saad Saleem, Muhammad Sarfraz Khan, Varisha Kabir, & Nabeel Baig. (2017). PHYSIOTHERAPY INTERVENTIONS FOR A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY PATIENT: A CASE STUDY. International Journal of Physiotherapy, 4(4), International Journal of Physiotherapy, 01 August 2017, Vol.4(4).

Brain injury is one of the main causes of disabilities globally. There is no exact method of rehabilitation for children that have suffered a traumatic brain injury. It is said that mobilization should be done early in the brain injury, because it is said that it will improve cognitive functioning and also improves behaviors. In brain injury patients, it is as if they were newborns again. Sometimes, they have to learn to walk, talk, and function again. They have suffered some kind of trauma to the brain. It is said that if therapy is started earlier, it will be less costly to the patients. Brain injury patients sometimes loose complete memory, which means that they do not remember how they got to the stage that they are currently in. Sometimes, the patient will be in shock, but they do not know how to express it. This can be very sad for the parents. There is a unit that has brain injury at the hospital that I am evaluating, there is also a unit that handles total care brain injuries.

Soffer, M., & Almog-Bar. (2016). Therapy or human right? The meaning of recreation for children and youth with disabilities in the “Krembo Wings” youth movement. Disability and Health Journal, 9(3), 399-405.

Recreation is something that is needed amongst children of any age and mental capacity. Recreation promotes health, quality of life and well-being. It is important for children with disabilities to get recreation time. Recreation can also give children more access to other children. This means they are able to interact more, doing the things that they like to do. It is said that recreation is a right that people with disabilities should have. They should be able to enjoy outdoors, and to enjoy their preferred activities. It is important that there are physical activities in order to reduce the risk, of other complications that may occur. Recreational therapy is seen very positive by children and can be used as a motivator for children with disabilities. Recreation therapy can be done both inside and outside. Recreation therapy focuses on bettering the body while having fun. This can motivate children, during their overall treatment. Recreating therapy is one of the therapies that are offered by the hospital that I am evaluating, it is also one of the most enjoyed activities. 

Vaisvaser, S. (2019). Moving Along and Beyond the Spectrum: Creative Group Therapy for Children with Autism. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 417.

Group therapy, for children with autism can be very important. Group therapy for autistic kids can assist them with their social skills. It provides a way for them to be around others and try to interact with them. It can lead to exploration with others and be able to have them engaging in playing with other children. In the groups the children will be able to try to use their speech, sign language or gestures in order to try to communicate. One of the most difficult things that comes with autism is being able to socialize with others, groups try to aim to better that obstacle. Creative arts and structures can be planned in order to encourage communication. Stimulation activities can also be planned, during these groups. Of course, there are going to be group challenges, positive and negative outcomes when holding these types of groups. This is one of many ways that autism can be improved within a child. Group therapy is given by the psychotherapists. The group therapies are held by classifications ex: chronic illness, eating disorders, brain injury, speech, etc.