If your child breaks a bone, you take him or her for an x-ray. The symptoms are obviously tied to the problem, the diagnosis is straightforward and treatment follows a planned methodology to support healing.
Unfortunately, mental health diagnosis in children is not always straightforward. Many disorders share overlapping symptoms, and no single physical test can provide a clear diagnosis. Therefore, misdiagnosis is common. Even scarier, the wrong treatment plan could actually exacerbate the symptoms of a missed condition.
As the parent of a child with a mental health condition, knowing about common misdiagnoses helps ensure your child is getting the proper care and support. Below is an overview of common childhood mental health misdiagnoses.
Infographic provided by MySpectrum, autism therapy Virginia
