Misdiagnosed
Elena worries constantly about school and what others think of her. Her heart races, her stomach hurts, and she has trouble sleeping. In class, she seems distracted and fidgety, but only when she is worried.
What is Anxiety.
Sam is asked to take out the trash but when she gets to the kitchen, she forgets what she was asked to do, so she continues with a preferred activity.
What is Working Memory.
Several times a month, Dana becomes suddenly sensitive to light and sound, feels nauseated, and needs to lie down in a dark, quiet room. She becomes withdrawn, irritable, and confused. She avoids activities and seems emotionally distressed during these episodes.
What is Recurring Headaches/Migraines.
During a mental health evaluation, the clinician asks rapid, probing questions about past abuse and insists on detailed answers. When Jordan becomes agitated, avoids eye contact, and shuts down, the clinician interprets this as resistance and diagnosis Oppositional Defiance Disorder. What approach should have been taken to ensure a more accurate diagnosis?
What is a Trauma-Informed Approach.
This green character's heart grew 3 sizes on Christmas.
What is The Grinch.
Jordan feels low most days, has little energy, and no longer enjoys activities he used to love. He moves slowly, struggles to get out of bed, and has trouble concentrating. Because he misses assignments and seems unmotivated he was diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder.
What is Depression.
Lila knows she needs to clean her room, but she sits on the bed feeling stuck and overwhelmed, not sure where to start.
What is Task Initiation.
In crowded, noisy environments, Leah covers her ears, becomes overwhelmed, and may cry or shut down. She appears distressed and avoids social situations.
What is Sensory Sensitivity.
During a mental health evaluation, Marcus is asked open-ended questions about his thoughts and feelings. Unable to find the words to explain his internal experiences, he gives brief or unrelated responses. Because his answers appeared inconsistent and vague, he was diagnosed with a thought disorder.
What is Communication Differences.
This classic 1983 Christmas movie's famous saying is: "You'll shoot your eye out, kid!"
What is A Christmas Story.
After witnessing violence, Riley has intense emotional swings, feels numb at times, and becomes easily overwhelmed. He has nightmares and is constantly on edge. Because his mood shifts quickly and he seems emotionally unstable, he was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder.
What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
When the teacher changes the instructions for an assignment, Marcus continues using the original directions and struggles to adjust to the new expectations.
What is Flexible Thinking.
Over several weeks, Ben becomes irritable, withdrawn, and unable to concentrate. He snaps at others, avoids eating, and has trouble sleeping. Because his mood and behavior changed suddenly, he was referred for a mental health evaluation.
What is Dental Pain.
When asked a series of questions during an academic assessment, Taylor fails to respond in a timely manner. As a result, the clinician notes distractibility and inattentiveness.
What is Insufficient Processing Time.
This popular Christmas song begins with the lyrics, "You better watch out, you better not cry."
What is Santa Claus is Comin' to Town.
Alex is a teenage boy with autism and moderate IDD. During an evaluation Alex says, "The voice in my head tells me what to do all day long." The clinician presumes hallucinations and diagnoses him with Psychotic Disorder.
What is Normal Self-Talk.
Ana blurts out answers during class discussions, even though she understands the rule to raise her hand.
What is Impulse Control.
Eli is a 14 year old boy who has autism and IDD. He frequently puts toys, non-food items, and other textured objects in his mouth while playing but does not swallow them.
What is Normal Developmental Stages.
During a mental health evaluation, Alex's caregiver reports Alex as "defiant," "moody," and "uncooperative." Alex (who has limited expressive communication) is not given adapted questions or time to share his own experience. Based on the responses given by the caregiver, Alex was diagnosed with a behavioral disorder. What made this evaluation lose accuracy?
What is Relying Only on Caregiver Report.
This movie stars a human raised by elves at the north pole. What is the human's name?
What is Buddy the Elf.
During an assessment, Jamie talks about a character who "comes with him" and helps him feel brave during stressful moments. Because Jamie describes the character vividly and refers to it as a companion, he was diagnosed with Schizophrenia.
What is Fantasy Play/Imaginary Friend.
Devin understands his long-term goal of graduating but repeatedly underestimates how long assignments will take and misses deadlines.
What is Planning and Prioritizing.
Noah is an 18 year old boy with autism and moderate IDD. When asked to make medical decisions he becomes overwhelmed, shuts down, and is labeled "uncooperative". What biopsychosocial consideration is being overlooked?
What is Social Anxiety.
Sofia is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. During a mental health assessment, Sofia is asked to rate how "hopeless" and "empty" she feels. She struggles to describe her emotions and responds with "I don't know." Because her responses seem flat and limited, she was diagnosed with a mood disorder. What important consideration was overlooked?
What is Difficulty Accessing and Labeling Internal Emotional States.
In The Polar Express, this phrase appears on the main character's ticket after it was fully punched by the conductor.
What is "BELIEVE."