Much of the work of international adoption occurs before you even meet your child. However, in some cases, your child will come home to you with issues that need to be treated. In addition to issues related directly to the adoption, such as depression about leaving his country of origin or anxiety about having a new family, some disorders are rooted in how your child was treated prior to the adoption. By recognizing these potential hurdles you'll be better able to help your child navigate life as a part of your family.
Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)
An attachment disorder occurs when a child's basic needs have not been met in infancy and early childhood or when caregivers change so frequently that the child has no time to make a connection with the caregiver. According to the definition in the DSM-IV, symptoms usually include behavior that is either inappropriately hypersocial or hyperinhibited. A child with RAD may be inappropriately friendly with strangers or act out violently when being comforted or shown love by a caregiver.
Mood Disorders
A 2005 Dutch study reported in Psychiatric News found that adopted children are overrepresented as mental health care consumers, with anxiety disorders topping the list of diagnoses. Neglect, poor nutrition and possible abuse are contributing physical factors, while feelings of abandonment are contributing emotional factors that cause anxiety and depression. The study showed that roughly 16 percent of internationally adopted children had anxiety disorders, compared to 11.2 percent of nonadopted children.
Sensory Integration Disorder
This disorder usually occurs in babies who spent a lot of time alone in their cribs and who were not held by caregivers, according Adoption.com. The nervous system of the child reacts inappropriately to stimulus, such as heat, cold or even snuggling. Symptoms include hostility or withdrawal. Physically it can manifest as a lack of coordination.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
Caused by the baby being exposed to alcohol in the womb, this disorder manifests itself physically with distinctive facial deformities and a small head size. Developmental delays are common, as are anxiety, hyperactivity and poor impulse control. FAS is a concern when adopting from Eastern Europe and Russia, where alcoholism rates are high and education about the link between consuming alcohol during pregnancy and negative effects on the fetus is low.
