[ThatDayinSeptember]

Are these disorders classified as emotional impairments or mental impairments?

I'm asking because my husband and I have inquired about adopting a 9 y/o boy who is in the foster care system. He is listed as having severe emotional impairment and moderate mental impairment. His profile makes no mention of him having RAD or ODD but I just want to be cautious and realize just because they are not listed doesn't mean he does not have these disorders.

We have yet to hear back from the agency so I'm just trying to research on my own and get a feel for what disorders/behaviours would be classified as severe emotional and moderate mental impairments.

Thanks in advance.

[Michele81]

RAD & ODD are considered mental health disturbances - their is a psychiatric "Bible," the DSM, that describes the symptoms of these & many other disorders. MR is a physical disorder since it cannot be "cured" or controlled with appropriate therapy (although these kids CAN be helped to maximize their function). Kids who have had major disruptions to the nurturing process in the first few years of life are at major risk for RAD, which can be helped if not cured with appropriate attachment therapy. Please be sure to check out the RAD blogs on this site & also other internet sites. Ask the questions indicative of RAD & be very careful before proceeding.

[Linny]

Another good place to check is the Attachment Disorder Support group, online. Google, ADSG. They have a list and suggestions for help.
RAD is very hard to treat........and truly, the younger the child, the more chance for success in 'cure'. However, once the child has gone beyond the first few years, I personally believe the vast majority of kids with RAD find very little if any success.
Living with RAD children is a very difficult thing to do, and not to be taken lightly by any means. It requires the family to be very, very strong; and have ready and strong support systems in place. These children are very tough to deal with; and often very hard to love----let alone 'like'. If any success is found, keep in mind that it is usually after many years of tire-less trying and therapies (unless, as I mentioned, the child is very, very young at the time of therapy).
Again, it takes a very special family...and I daresay, one that is very well versed in the disability. People who can raise these children are very called and special indeed, as far as I'm concerned.

Sincerely,

Linny

[GammaDeanne]

Dear ThatDayInSeptember,
It is not unusual at all for an agency to not respond to inquires from prospective adoptive parents about questions regarding RAD. That acronym instills fear in the hearts of many social workers who deal in the placement of prospective adoptive children as it frequently means that
1. the prospective family may be aware of what RAD is;
2. that the prospective family upon being told that yes, the child may indeed be dealing with RAD, the then prospective family will withdraw their application to adopt said child;
3. or worse yet, that by not responding to your inquiry, you may decide to move forward with the placement, ignorant of this child's 'issue/s" and then later, after the nighmare begins, approach the agency on how to go about declaring your placement a 'failed adoption', which is their worst nightmare.

So, my advice is to keep asking until they respond to your inquiry. RAD is not for the faint of heart to deal with, I know, I am still picking up the pieces from my own two RAD children's lives. If I had simply been told from the start I sincerely believe that we would have had a much more satisfactory outcome for my children. But, because we were lied to, my children have suffered greatly.

You are the expert in your home; you know what is best for you and your family. Do not let any social worker or agency worker bluff you into doing anything that you feel is not in your families best interest.

I hope this has helped,
GammaDeanne

[Lorraine123]

Usually in children profiles, RAD and ODD are included in emotional disorders. Mental impairment is usually retardation. This isn't always, but my experience show this.

[sak9645]

So many of these things combine physical, mental, and emotional components. As an example, consider a child who has been born to a woman who drank alcohol during pregnancy.

Many children prenatally exposed to alcohol have learning disabilities or mental retardation. They may also have poor coordination, sleep or feeding disorders, and physical deformities. In addition, they may have very high impulsivity and an inability to connect cause and effect. They have a high risk of getting into harmful relationships, committing crimes, etc., because of their limitations of intellect and emotional maturity. As an example, they may have anger management issues because of their impulsivity, or they may fall in with bad companions because they are easily "led".

What's best would be for you not to mention labels, but to ask about specific behaviors. Is the child functioning at grade level in school? If not, do his challenges appear to be because of low IQ or because he can't sit still and focus long enough to complete work or take a test? Is the child considered likely to hurt himself or others, and has he ever done such things? Does the child appear to have a good rapport with his current caregivers? Have there been problems with lying, stealing, and so on? Is the child being treated for conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, panic attacks, or other psychiatric conditions? Does the child have a history of running away, playing truant, etc.? Has he ever set fires? Was the child subjected to physical or sexual abuse, either from the birth family or from caregivers, and has he shown signs of inappropriate sexual behavior? Do records show any recommendations that he/she be placed in a secure residential treatment facility?

Only when you get a very specific picture of the kind of problems a child has can you determine if you can handle those problems. In many cases, the social worker will not know the answers, and you will need to push him/her to get the information you need. In other cases, there may be a tendency for the social workers to want to avoid discussing these issues, because they know that few people will accept a child who is violent, who acts out sexually, who has not formed a conscience, who will always need 24/hour a day supervision, etc.

Sharon