I'm not sure how I feel about RAD diagnosed in infancy and toddlerhood. Personally, through hearing how I behaved during this period, I could check off several items on this list. I was a non-responsive baby. Originally, my foster mother sent me to the doctor twice because she felt I slept too much. After everything checked out the first time, she sought a second opinion. I was given several tests: thyroid, hearing, a metabolic screen, and an EEG. There was "some abnormality due to low amplitude of responses." But I could hear, the experts just didn't know how I responded the way I did.
- Cries; miserable all the time, chronically fussy
- Resists comforting or nurturance
- Resists or dislikes being held
- Poor eye contact or avoids eye contact
- Flat, lifeless affect (too quiet)
- Likes playpen or crib more than being held
- Rarely cries (overly good baby)
- Angry or rageful when cries
- Exceedingly demanding
- Looks sad or empty-eyed
- Delayed milestones (creeping, crawling, etc.)
- Stiffens or becomes rigid when held
- Likes to be in control
- Does not hold on when held (no reciprocal holding)
- When held chest to chest, faces away
- Doesn't like head touched (combed, washed)
- Generally unresponsive to parent
- Cries or rages when held beyond his wishes
- Overly independent play or makes no demands
- Reaches for others to hold him rather than parent
- Little or reduced verbal responsiveness
- Does not return smiles
- Shows very little imitative behavior
- Prefers Dad to Mom
- Gets in and out of parents lap frequently
- Physically restless when sleeping
- Does not react to pain (high pain tolerance)
It will be interesting to see what future research discovers about infant bonding and attachment.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Photo retrieved from: http://www.janetlansbury.com/2010/03/rie-and-attachment-theory-why-earliest-relationships-matter-the-21st-annual-rie-conference-featuring-sir-richard-bowlby/
No comments:
Post a Comment