Toddler tantrum or burgeoning behavior disorder? How to tell the difference and change the behavior

June 18, 5:07 PMChicago Special Education ExaminerKindall Nelson

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Parents often wonder, "Is this a normal preschooler tantrum or something else?" It can be hard to tell.

The earlier you are able to find and diagnose a health problem, the earlier you will be able to act and make an attempt to fix it. In fact, the ability to diagnose and treat many diseases early today contributes to Americans' increased life expectancy over previous years.

The same is true when it comes to diagnosing and treating behavior disorders. Until recently, psychologists assumed that these problems could not be diagnosed until a child was already out of control. In fact, most of the listed symptoms of behavioral disorders are not likely to be seen in a very young child. These include stealing, vandalism, rape, and animal torture among other things. An older child with any of these issues would definitely need serious intervention. Other listed symptoms are common with young children, and often considered 'normal'; including defiance, impulsiveness, and a short temper.

So, how can one look at their two year old screaming and writhing on the floor in an attempt to get them to give in on "one more cookie" and decide if the problem is serious? Is it at all possible to predict if a child is going to have a serious behavioral problem? How does a parent know if their child will “grow out of” this stage of behavior?

Researchers have been working on the answer to that question.

According to the America Psychological Association, more than 5 in 100 American children are diagnosed with some type of behavior disorder. Sometimes the disorder comes as part of another diagnosis, such as ADHD or a brain injury. Other times the disorder manifests on its own.

First of all, one has to consider the risk factors for a particular child. These can include the facts that children with behavior disorders are more likely to live in poverty, more likely to have been a witness to family violence, and more likely to have been exposed prenatally to smoke, drugs, and/or alcohol.

Secondly, one would want to compare a child's behaviors with that of a child who is about the same age and developmental level. This chart shows the possible differences between the average child and the child who is manifesting early signs of a behavior disorder.

  Now, as with any psychological disorder, symptoms vary and not all children have all of the symptoms. In addition, most psychiatrists will only consider a diagnoses of a behavior disorder if the behavior has lasted more than 6 months. But if you are worried about your child's behavior or the behavior of a child in your care, it is best to talk to someone with some experience in the field.

Most importantly, don't despair! With early intervention, consistent behavior modification techniques, and a lot of patience, a child can grow up to a perfectly normal teen and beyond without any formal intervention.