Anxiety, stress, depression. These are not usually attributes that might be associated with a child but are very real in children with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Suffering may include loss of sleep, increased anxiety and even causing harm to themselves or others. Disability benefits from the Social Security Administration are available for children who suffer, but diagnosis and treatment should be every parent’s aim.
Janet Singer wrote on PsychCentral that while rituals are an important part of helping young children understand the world, children with OCD will only experience “a fleeting calm” once they complete their ritual. This means that over the days, months and years, children will likely develop even more rituals they feel they need to take on. Parents should take note of which rituals are soothing for children for more than a few minutes and pay attention to how long the child performs rituals on a daily basis.
Treatment is the best option for children suffering from OCD. Not only is a record of treatment necessary to attain disability benefits from the SSA, it will also help fight the disease. The New York Times reported that when properly treated, 60 percent to 85 percent of patients see significant improvement and will remain better for years.
“If you suspect, for any reason, that your child might be suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder, I’d suggest taking him or her to a doctor who can do a proper assessment,” Singer wrote on PsychCentral. “If your child doesn’t have OCD, you will have peace of mind, and if your child does have the disorder, he or she can benefit greatly from early therapy.”
Children affected by OCD require sustained medical treatment. Social Security benefits are available for these children. However, many children who suffer from this disorder will be denied benefits by the SSA.
To prevent denial of benefits, it is important for the parents to secure all relevant medical and school evidence in order to document the symptoms that affect their child’s daily activities and limitations.
The Law Offices of Harold W. Conick & Associates are expert and zealous advocates on behalf of children seeking disability benefits as a result of suffering from OCD and other mental illnesses.
