This section explains how the right diagnosis and medical intervention can help to reduce problem behaviour.
If we can determine that the child is in pain the first step is to seek medical attention when appropriate. If the child is suffering from a chronic illness that is causing the pain then the doctor can reduce or eliminate it.
A pain checklist can be used to assess when and in what circumstances your child is in pain. The checklist will help the doctor to diagnose the problem which will lead to a more effective and quicker treatment.
What would the parent of a typically developing child do if their child was ill?
What would they change to make things easier for the child?
Most likely they would give medicine and not send their child to school. This approach seems simple and obvious. However, it can be easy to forget these simple approaches when a child cannot communicate that they are in pain.
By being on the lookout for pain, identifying the pain, and treating it effectively you can help the child feel better and reduce problem behaviour that may have resulted from the pain.
