How Kids Perceive MS Sala S. Webb, MD Webb Psychiatric Consulting, - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

How Kids Perceive MS

Sala S. Webb, MD Webb Psychiatric Consulting, PLLC

Goals

• Review basics of development
• Share tips for discussion

Development

Early Childhood (3-5)

Cognitive

• Development of memory &

imagination

• Cannot grasp cause & effect or

time

Psychological

• Developing a sense of personal

control over physical senses (ages 2-4)

• Asserting power and control over

their environment (ages 5-6)

Early Childhood (3-5)

Emotional

• Feelings are a direct result of the

situation

Social

• Egocentric (ages 3-6)
• Recognize others may have a

different opinion, but cannot identity with it ( ages 6-9)

Middle Childhood (6-11)

Cognitive

• Increasingly aware of external

events

• Aware their thoughts are unique
• Can perform reversible mental

actions

Psychological

• Begin to develop a sense of pride

in their accomplishments

Middle Childhood (6-11)

Emotional

• Feelings originate internally from a

concrete location

Social

• Self-reflective
• Able to see themselves from other’s

point of view

Adolescence (12-19)

Cognitive

• Can understand and manipulate

abstract concepts

• Can perform metacognition

Psychological

• Develop independence
• Explore sense of self

Adolescence (12-19)

Emotional

• Feelings are diffuse in nature (early)
• Feelings are influenced by internal

and external factors (late)

• They can exert control over feelings

Social

• Engage in mutual role-taking
• Able to imagine how a 3rd person

might make judgments on both their own and another’s point of view

Discussion

The Initial Revelation…

• As soon as you know for certain- TELL THEM!
• Don’t try to hide, mask or diminish
• There is never a “Right Moment”- MAKE TIME!

Explaining the Physiology…

• Keep it clear and simple
• Pictures and drawings can help
• Everyday metaphors can be useful: e.g. computers, electrical wires
• Not contagious; likely genetic
• Similar to other diseases= diabetes, asthma, etc.

Explaining the Prognosis & Treatment…

• Not yet curable
• Not lethal
• Many good medications and treatment options
• Explain what you will be taking/doing

So What Does This Look Like?

• Difficulty moving hands and feet
• Difficulty speaking
• Poor attention and memory
• Increased tiredness; low energy
• Problems sleeping
• Changes in appetite and weight
• Pain
• Challenges with bladder and bowel

control

• Numbness and tingling
• Difficulty walking

So

• What Does

s This Mean For Me?

• Will have to find other ways to get you to outside activities (or decrease)
• Will have to help more around the house
• Will have to help more with younger siblings
• May be asked questions by peers

Discussion Tips

• Follow your child’s lead
• Anticipate and embrace questions
• Can use everyday teaching moments
• Break up the discussion- no need to cover everything at once!
• Connect with a community – local Chapter and other resources
• Celebrities

Keep In Mind..

• Children are sponges- they already know!
• Children are more resilient than we give them credit for
• Include them as much as possible
• Do not hide your feelings= going through the range of emotions together as

a family can be therapeutic

• Maintain a routine as much as possible

Be Alert For…

• Withdrawal
• Increased worry or fear
• Irritability
• Aggression
• Imitating your symptoms
• Declining school performance

Kids are not little adults, but adults are big kids