Do We All Have Toxic Stress? Maybe…
By: Dr. B
I received a text from a Special Education Director a few days ago, stating “Dr B we need you, we have a kiddo that looks like your kind of student.” I set up a meeting with the team and found out that the child was diagnosed with ADHD and this 6 year old was hitting, kicking, biting, and eloping from school. The team explained that they were concerned because he was making statements about how he wanted to hurt them. I asked the team if they knew if the student had an ACE’s screening, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and they indicated thatt they had not heard. In a 2019 article by Lisette K.M. Walbeehm-Hol and Jamiu O. Busari stated that only 17% of providers complete an ACE’s screening (2022). I quickly pulled up a screening tool while we chatted and based on a brief conversation noted 3 indicators.
Here is a list of the ACE’s indicators:
Physical, Emotional, or Sexual Abuse
Emotional or Physical Neglect
Incarceration of a parent
Divorce or Separation of a parent
Mental Illness within the home
Domestic Violence within the home
Bullying
Racism
Natural Disaster
Refugee Experiences
Witnessing a Violent Crime
(Isler, 2023)
Next we reviewed the list of symptoms for toxic stress in children;
Withdrawal
Defiance
Aggression or risky behavior (often times targeted to someone or themselves)
Sleep Disturbances and/or nightmares
Memory Problems
Confusion/Disorientation
Poor Concentration
Difficulty identifying people or objects
Physical Pain - headaches, stomach aches, digestive issues, etc.
Overwhelmed
Anxious or afraid
Depression, disinterest
Racing thoughts
Irritable, angry, impatient
Hyper, unable to calm down, always in motion
Lethargic and unable to feel rested
Obviously, this list could indicate a number of things, one of which is ADHD, which is why it’s so important that an ACE’s screening be completed and why a medical intervention like medication may not provide the appropriate intervention. This student, according to the educators, was displaying 8 of the symptoms.
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