The earlier a problem or issue is addressed, the more likely to be solved more quickly, more efficiently, and with better long-term results.
Over the last 25 years, there has been more research conducted with the population of preschool children. A great percentage of my patients are also in the preschool age due to the fact that one of my areas of concentration is neurodevelopmental disorders, including Autism Spectrum Disorders.
There has been more evidence that if children are treated early enough for significant symptoms that they may show during the preschool years, then there is a high chance that more severe and chronic problems may be prevented from developing. One example is anxiety disorders: A child can present signs of anxiety and fear of one specific situation, and then develop to a more generalized anxiety condition if he/she does not receive appropriate and empirically-based interventions from a qualified professional in the area of child psychology.
I have often heard from parents that their child has “O.D.D. (Oppositional Defiance Disorder), or C.D. (Conduct Disorder). I would like to recommend that parents do not diagnose their child with a name or condition. If parents are worried that their child is presenting so many signs, behaviors, and delays which interfere with their daily life, please, contact your pediatrician and/or a professional specialized in the area of developmental and child psychology. Finally, if your child is presenting any developmental delay ( in speech, gross and fine motor skills, emotional, social), do not delay looking for services and for help from your local School Board as there are services that children with developmental delays can receive free of charge for all ages even before they enter regular Kindergarten.
Finally, in terms of treatment, there has been significant research showing the types of therapies that work with preschool children, and they involve the interaction between children and parents most of the time. An example of a well-studied and empirically proven to work treatment is Parent-Child Interaction Therapy. If you look for help from a psychologist or other mental health professional, please, ask the clinician about their approach to treating the various conditions in preschoolers, about their experience in the field, and whether their approach to clinical work has been empirically studied, i.e., if there is scientific evidence for their therapy model and techniques.
