Key Elements to Behavioral/Emotional Challenges and Testing in Broward County

Do you have a loved one who struggles with behavioral or emotional challenges? At the Jeff Masarek Behavioral Health Center, we can help!

Behavioral and emotional health rank just as high on the scale of importance as any other type of health status, but unfortunately, they have the potential to be overlooked and often go unnoticed if not identified or diagnosed properly.

At the Jeff Masarek Behavioral Health Center, we understand that sometimes behavioral and emotional challenges are not easy to address, especially when someone is unsure of the type of symptoms they possess or how to seek appropriate help.  Obtaining the right support starts with the testing process to determine what the symptoms are, potential causes and treatment recommendations.

What are Behavior/Emotional Challenges?

When a child is experiencing behavioral or emotional challenges, they may be negatively impacting their functioning at home or at school, and/or within their social relationships.

While you may be able to identify one (or several) ways in which your child is struggling, it’s always important to seek testing and ensure that a licensed mental health professional makes an official diagnosis and provides informed treatment recommendations.

How Do I Know If My Child Has a Behavioral or Emotional Disorder?

Watch for the following, which may indicate that you may need to seek further testing to better understand your child’s functioning and their accompanying needs:

• Your child exhibits prolonged sadness, anxiety, anger, aggression or withdrawal from activities or family and friends.
• There is an elongated time period where the child shows no signs of “outgrowing” challenging behavior.
• New challenging behaviors emerge that remain consistent for a 1-2 week period of time.
• There are signs of intense, severe or uncontrollable behavior.
• The age of the child is an important factor. While some behavioral mannerisms may be appropriate for a 5-year-old, there are also some that may not be normal for a 10-year-old. Age appropriateness is key.
• Your child is displaying age appropriate behavior at a frequency that is not similar to their peers.

Benefits of Behavioral/Emotional Testing

Without looking at all the potential challenges and the “big picture” of what the child is going through at the time, a child may be incorrectly diagnosed, which could cause their challenges to continue or worsen without the proper actionable support. There are a variety of assessments that licensed mental health professionals can administer to evaluate a child’s emotional and behavioral functioning.

Clear Results– The main objective of seeking early testing is to obtain a better understanding of one’s behavioral or emotional difficulties and receive an official diagnosis, if appropriate. Once results are received, they give clients and their families peace of mind, so they can move forward and seek the proper care.

Next Steps– Clear results give medical and mental health professionals the ability to make informed recommendations in order to assist those who are diagnosed with an emotional or behavioral disorder in getting the services they need to thrive.

Proper Care– With an official diagnosis, the client can be placed under the proper medical or mental health care tailored to their unique needs. At the Jeff Masarek Behavioral Health Center, we understand this journey is not an easy one, and so, we strive to make the path as smooth as possible.

Permission to Look at Alternative Testing– You are now one step closer! If your testing results rule out certain diagnoses, then you have the capacity to cross that test off the list and continue on with alternative testing methods that will bring you closer to the answers you’re seeking.

The benefits of seeking behavioral or emotional disorder testing far outweigh the “wait and see” approach. Testing allows for official results and a professional diagnosis that can help you or a loved one live a healthier, happier and more fulfilling life. Need help diagnosing a specific behavioral or emotional disorder? Get more information or schedule an assessment. Contact us today!