Schizophrenia affects a person's ability to interpret the difference between real and unreal experiences. This mental illness interferes with normal emotional responses and behaviors causing patients to behave inappropriately in normal situations. According to the World Health Organization, schizophrenia affects twenty four million people worldwide. Schizophrenia presents most often in adolescence or early adulthood. However, some children will display subtle signs and symptoms before the age of twelve, says the Mental Health America website.
Hallucinations
Schizophrenics experience hallucinations that affect all five senses, the most common being auditory and visual, says the Mayo Clinic website. Many times the voices heard become critical, illogical or abusive and sound like somebody that the person finds meaningful, making their influence more powerful to the schizophrenic. A schizophrenic child may report hearing the voice of grandma telling her she is bad and should hurt herself or ask a parent if somebody could get the bears out of his room. Children may cock their heads as if listening, even when alone in a room or may appear to be having a conversation with themselves. Many schizophrenic children will hesitate to volunteer about hallucinating but will admit it if asked.
Incoherent Speech and Inappropriate Affect
Characteristics of schizophrenia in children include disorganized or incoherent speech as well as inappropriate affect. Adults with schizophrenia will often talk too fast, rapidly shift subjects or make up phrases and words known only to the patient, says the Mental Health America website. Children may have trouble concentrating in school, may appear to lose their train of thought mid-sentence and may begin to rhyme their words in a nonsensical or illogical manner. A schizophrenic child may laugh during a sad situation or cry out of nowhere. They may display a flat affect, appearing emotionless one minute and shrieking with laughter the next.
Delusions
Delusions are defined as a firmly held idea that a person holds despite clear and obvious evidence to the contrary. Schizophrenics frequently have delusions of persecution, fearing an unknown group wants to harm them. A child may tell bizarre and elaborate stories as if they are true. The Mental Health America websites say that they may have delusions that billboards or television commercials send out secret messages just for them or may feel that they are somebody famous who others revere or worship.
Hygiene
Parents may notice a steady decline in their child's hygiene. This will go beyond not wanting to take a bath. A child may stop brushing his teeth, combing his hair, may wear dirty clothes, stop flushing the toilet and may begin to lose a sense of perspective about privacy. Parent's may notice that the child has stopped closing the door before using the bathroom or that they have failed to clean themselves properly afterward.
Considerations
In adolescents and young adults signs of schizophrenia will often come on suddenly and appear obvious. Symptoms in younger children may make it more difficult to discern from normal childhood behaviors since many young children have imaginary friends. Schizophrenia is hereditary. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, ten percent of people with a first degree relative will be diagnosed with schizophrenia though it will usually skip a generation. In families with a history of schizophrenia, parents should monitor children closely and seek help when necessary.
