How can I recognize a behavioral disorder myself?
If the parents have the feeling that something is wrong with their child, they are usually right. Since they spend every day with the baby, they are the only ones who can say for sure whether the baby is behaving conspicuously. This is especially true for acute illnesses that the parents notice even before manifest symptoms appear.
This is more difficult with behavioral problems. As described above, babies can attract attention by restlessness, crying, eating disorders/refusal to eat, sleeping problems and similar demands on the parents. If mother and father already have experience through an older sibling, they may notice such behavior more clearly in comparison.
However, since these symptoms are not specific, behavioural problems in babies cannot in fact be detected. It is more important to recognize an additional feeling of discomfort or suffering in the child, as this could be a sign of an acute illness that requires immediate treatment. Behavioral problems, on the other hand, only become more obvious in the course of childhood and then require the parents’ action. Should the child therefore remain conspicuous, a more precise clarification can be made, for example, at kindergarten age.
Does a U-examination examine behavioral abnormalities?
There is no screening for behavioural disorders. The U-examinations examine the physical and psychological development appropriate to the age of the patient, whereby massive behavioral abnormalities can become apparent.Only after the U9 and/or the enrollment examination do the doctor’s focus shift to the child’s social and behavioral skills in order to check the child’s ability to attend school. But even here, the doctor does not specifically look for behavioral abnormalities.
Which doctor is responsible if a behavioral problem exists?
In general, the pediatrician, and for older children also the pediatric psychologist/psychiatrist, can be used for this. The pediatrician would be responsible for the baby. However, as already described, behavioral problems at this age are not very important from a medical point of view, so there is no specialist for this.
