There are many children across the United States who suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder. In fact, S. Evelyn Stewart, Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School, wrote on the International OCD Foundation Scientific Advisory Board’s website that one in every 200 children are impacted by OCD. This can mean problems at school, disrupted routines, problems with self-esteem and anger management issues, all of which can be debilitating to developing children.
In the most serious cases of OCD, parents may want to look into disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. This can help with medical payments and other expenses while the child is treated. Cases may be made worse by children who suffer from peripheral mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, due to OCD.
Psych Central said it is imperative to recognize the cycle children go through when suffering from OCD. This can be triggered by a stressful or traumatic experience and can include:
“Find a specialist who is trained to treat OCD by implementing cognitive-behavioral therapy that includes Exposure and Response Prevention,” Psych Central said, adding that studies have shown this to be the most effective treatment. No matter what kind of treatment you seek, keep medical records for the case, as this will be needed to obtain benefits from an SSA Administrative Judge.
Psychological testing, including IQ and other cognitive tests, can be very compelling evidence to a judge. Schools records, especially IEPs, can also enlightened a judge concerning the child’s ability to function in the domains used by the SSA to determine childhood disability. The Law Offices of Harold W. Conick & Associates are experts in preparing and presenting evidence of childhood disability.
