Abuse and Neglect Literally Changes the Wiring of Children's Brains

I had a great opportunity to participate in a day-long session yesterday conducted by Dr. Joy Osofsky - a psychologist, psychoanalyst, and a professor in pediatrics and psychiatry at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans at the State of Oklahoma's Children's Behavioral Health Conference.

Dr. Osofsky is Co-Director of the Louisiana Rural Trauma Services Center and a member of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.  She is an international expert in how children's mental health and behavior are impacted by abuse, neglect, and other forms of trauma.  An incredibly well-published researcher and practitioner, her latest book Young Children and Trauma: Intervention and Treatment is a great read for anyone involved in mental health, child welfare, the judiciary, and law enforcement.

Here are some of the power things Dr. Osofsky had to say - as well as some great resources she mentioned that I encourage you to follow-up on:
 

Q: What are the impacts of trauma on children?

Trauma derails the normal developmental trajectory of children in the following ways:

• Developmental delays (Dr. Osofsky said that it is very "rare" for there to not be a developmental delay in an abuse/neglect situation)
  
  
    
• Emotional dysregulation - a term used in the mental health community to refer to an emotional response that is poorly modulated, and does not fall within the conventionally accepted range of emotive response (e.g., mood swings).  Possible manifestations of emotional dysregulation include angry outbursts of behavior outbursts such as destroying or throwing objects, aggression towards self or others, and threats to kill oneself.  These variations usually occur in seconds to minutes or hours. Emotional dysregulation can lead to behavioral problems and can interfere with a person's social interactions and relationships at home, in school, or at a place of employment.
  
  
    
• Difficulty forming attachments in childhood and later in life
  
  
    
• Over-reactive fear - stress response
  
  
    
• Language problems often occur as a result of trauma
  
  
     

Q: How do children experience trauma?

• Loss of trust
• Uncertainty and new fears
• Emotional instability
• Behavioral changes
• A return to earlier behaviors (e.g. bed wetting)
• Post-traumatic stress syndrome
   

Q: How are children traumatized?

• Direct abuse / neglect
• Living in and around high-levels of community violence
• Domestic violence
• Hearing about traumatic events
• Exposure to the media (especially if children are exposed to violence in the media without a caregiver to monitor that exposure)

Q: How is the brain impacted by trauma?

• "Abuse and neglect literally changes the wiring of the brains of young children." Dr. Jack Schonkoff, Director of the Center on the Developing Child
   
• When children are faced with prolonged / persistent trauma (e.g., abuse and neglect), the levels of cortisol in their brains is increased (Stress hormone).  The increased level of cortisone in the developing brain literally "poisons the brain," according toe Dr. Schonkoff as it disrupts normal and healthy brain development.
   
• There is significant research that demonstrates that abuse and neglect impacts the brain development of young children.  Learn more at: http://developingchild.harvard.edu/

Dr. Jack Schonkoff also has a great book called From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Science of Early Childhood Development.


One more thing. . .
There is so much more I could share.  The last thing I will suggest you look at is the Still Face video.  This video (the experiment itself) shows a clear demonstration of the stress that babies experience when they are being ignored, neglected or are lacking the engagement of their caregiver.  It shows us that babies DO know what is going on in their environment and are stressed by a lack of stimulation and engagement.

- Katie Fitzgerald