Question

Read medical information on conditions such as anxiety, depression, or ADHD. Which information did you learn this would be helpful for a high-school classroom teacher?

Answer 1

Pediatric psychopathology deals with the various mental disorders that children/adolescents deal with. There are a plethora of issues that children deal with. As a high school teacher one deals with adolescent age group. Medical information of any condition can help the teacher understand the emotional, physical and behavioral signs and symptoms faced by the child. It also gives a good understanding of how the particular condition impacts the child/adolescent at various ages and what are the possible manifestations.

First and foremost the most important thing that will help a teacher will be the most obvious behaviour manifestation of the disorder/condition. Most symptoms are obvious and they help us identify the similarities between the studied symptoms and the observable manifestation. Buit,there are also certain symptoms which are tricky, until we have studied them objectively. While in the role of a teacher and having to handle a class with class of students, its natural to overlook certain symptoms and `to pigeonhole them in a particular category without really taking cognizance of their need for help. Medical information educates one of the explicit as well as implicit signs given by the child.

Second thing which can help is understanding the possible causes of that particular condition. This is particularly important as this stage helps us to open up the window of resolution.

Certain conditions can be psychosomatic while some can be driven by purely physiological basis. Medical knowledge about conditions can help one channelize medical help where required or can also think of psychological help through counseling, supplementary therapy, etc.

this information can also determine the possible classroom modifications we can usher to accomodate the child.

Medical information gives us an objective overview of the condition and will help the teacher educate the others in the class. This can help the child cope with his conditions with a stable social support of his peers and friends.

Gender difference if any are noticed in a particular condition can also be very helpful here.

Certain conditions co-occur with other conditions making it a compunded issue to deal with. So medical information helps us to check if the condition the child is dealing with is co-occuring with any other condition.

Also , If there are certain formal tests required to certify//ascertain the child which can help the child gain certain accomodations under the academic/schooling system or fetch specialized help for their educational needs like getting a special educators help in helping the child. This will help the child cope with his educational goals.

Some conditions have certain breakdown points, medical information about conditions can make us aware of such breakdowns which we should definitely avoid to push the child in the further abyss of the condition.