Social Emotional Screening Essay Example

Social Emotional Screening Essay Social Emotional Screening Name: Course: Date: We will write a custom essay sample on Social Emotional Screening specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Social Emotional Screening specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Social Emotional Screening specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Social Emotional Screening Layla is a 5-year-old girl who lives in Denver Colorado. The people present at the screening were her parents who had recently moved to Denver from Texas and worked at the local fire department. She is the last-born in a family of four children and had just completed her preschool education. Her parents were of concerned that Layla, a previously joyful child, had suddenly become withdrawn and less happy. This was the main reason that her screening was carried from the comfort of her home. The initial analysis was done by her teachers who then reported their concerns to the parents. Their sole purpose for moving was to create a new environment for her in an effort to cater for her wellbeing. Their presence at the screening was a clear indicator that their efforts had not borne fruit. According to her mother, Layla was born full term. Additionally there were no major complications surrounding her birth and the months preceding it. The child has never been diagnosed with any condition that could deter her development. Other than the usual illnesses associated with infancy, her health has been normal as per her previous doctor’s observations. This means that she is a typically developing or healthy child. Layla’s most recent health assessment was on November 5 2012. It was done to monitor her progress after the first few concerns about her withdrawal by her teachers were made. The tool used was the norm-referenced assessment (Burns, 2009). Her performance was compared to that of other children who had previously been subjected to the same test. The results were positive in that she was found to be normal in terms of her emotional development, and thus there was no cause for alarm. The current screening was conducted by a pediatrician through an interview administered to her parents at home. The 18 Month interval of Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ: SE) was administered. The ASQ provides a brief screening of children’s social emotional development. It provides screening of children’s emotional status based on the age of the child. The ASQ’s main aim is to assist parents and caregivers in identifying the possibility of future social and emotional difficulties (Whitcomb et al, 2013). This is done through a thorough assessment of the responses provided to the questions in the questionnaire. It is designed for completion by the child’s parents or guardians who have lived with the children long enough to make solid observations of any changes in their behavior. Layla scored within the normal ranges in all the categories tested in the questionnaire. She did well in the gross and motor categories and the problem solving area. The other two domains, personal-social and communication, were the only areas she seemed to have a problem though not much. The overall results are summarized below: Layla’s score was 35 against a cut off score of 70 The results of the screening were mostly in the affirmative in that the child scored within the normal range in all the five categories that are tested, although there were quite a number of concerns raised. For instance, the parents cited worries over the child’s eating and sleeping habits. They found them peculiar in the sense that she sleeps more and eats less as compared to previous times. Layla had also started most of her time indoors instead of playing with her friends as she used to both at home and in school. She had also developed the tendency of doing things repeatedly for a long period, and other people had started to show concern over her behavior in a more frequent manner. Layla’s case is not severe and therefore does not require mental health evaluation. However, her parents need to take certain measures to ensure that she is steered back to perfect emotional and social health. For instance, they should talk to Layla about what is happening to her before seeking professional help. This is to identify the problem, as she might be aware of the factors affecting her emotional and social health. Layla could have reasons that could explain the results of the screening. Secondly, they should professional assistance in case the child offers no clue to her emotional status. This means she could be subjected to further tests for better diagnosis of the problem. Layla could also be taken to hospital for analysis of her eating and sleeping habits. This would ascertain whether her problems were related to biological and health factors. After the findings, I recommend that her sleeping patterns be predetermined by her parents to ensure she does not oversleep. With regard to eating, a diet should be arranged with strict measures to adhere to it. Her friends could also be contacted to provide more information on their interactions with her because they could be useful in diagnosing her problem. Through collaboration with her teachers and friends, she should be given more activities in which she triumphs as away to make her feel good about herself. With regard to other areas of her wellbeing, Layla should continue to be taken for more tests to monitor her development. This helps in keeping abreast with her development and in identifying future problems earlier. The environment in which the child lives should be made conducive for her social and emotional health. This would assist in further positive development. Her siblings should also be notified about the results of the screening and made to provide emotional support to their sister. In the categories of gross and fine motor, her parents could be of assistance in monitoring the physical development. Physical growth is often an indicator of emotional wellbeing. They should note and report areas where the child has failed to respond positively or as required. Alternatively, her parents could devote more time to her because it could be she feels neglected (Benson et al, 2009). References Benson, J. B., Haith, M. M. (2009). Social and emotional development in infancy and early childhood. Amsterdam: Academic. Burns, C. E. (2009). Pediatric primary care. St. Louis, Mo: Saunders/Elsevier. Whitcomb, S. A., Merrell, K. W. (2013). Behavioral, social, and emotional assessment of children and adolescents. New York: Routledge.