Trauma can be the result of physical or sexual abuse, domestic violence, neglect, natural disasters accidents and war.Trauma what it does to a child.This is the information I found while searching the internet for answers. I am constantly looking for ways I can not only help my grands but also ways that I can understand the why’s. I want to know why they are acting a certain way I want to know if its related to their traumatic beginning. I want to know what I can do to help them.Childhood trauma refers to children usually birth to 6 years of age. Because of their inability to verbalize many people believe that young children are not as impacted by the traumatic event. This is false. The impact can be greater at this age because of the brains developments that occur during this stage of life.Trauma experienced by a young child can damage the brain. It reduces the size of the brain’s cortex. The cortex is in charge of memory, attention, perceptual awareness, thinking, language, and consciousness. These changes in the cortex may affect the child’s IQ, their ability to regulate their emotions, the child may be more fearful and the child will not feel safe.There are behavioral, cognitive and physiological symptoms associated with trauma. Young children who are nonverbal have behaviors thar are what provide us with the clues to let us know how they were affected. They are unable to express how they feel if they’re afraid, if they’re overwhelmed, if they’re helpless or if they’re stressed.Symptoms and behaviors associated with young children exposed to trauma are as follows but not limited to demonstrates poor verbal skills, memory problems, difficulty focusing and learning in school, learning disabilities, developmental delays, poor skill development, excessive temper, social isolation, coordination problems, demands attention with both positive and negative behaviors, regressive behaviors, aggressive behaviors, acts out in social situations, imitates the abuser or the traumatic event, screams or cries excessively, startles easily, unable to trust, unable to make friends, believe that they are to blame for the traumatic experience, fear adults who remind them of the traumatic events, seperation anxiety, lack of empathy, increased medical problems, anxious and fearful, irritability, sadness, act withdrawn, lack self confidence, feel shame or guilt, have a poor appetite, low weight, experience stomach issues and headaches, have poor sleep habits, experience nightmares, have sleep difficulties and may wet the bed. It’s common for children to have many of these symptoms.Not all children are effected in the same way. Nor are all children affected at the same time or at the same stage of development.Diagnosises are not always given right away especially in preverbal children. Trauma assessments also are not always given immediately after the event. The behaviors that require an assessment can show up at any time after trauma. Which may delay the assesment. Many educational and community programs are playing an important role in assessing children. They are including questions on their intakes and assessments that will help to identify children who suffered through a traumatic event. Its important to identify early on so that the child can have an early intervention, which would lead to a healthier happier life.The most common diagnosis children exposed to trauma is PTSD. I have written about this early on after monkey and princess were diagnosed with it.Other common diagnoses are Panic attacks, Depression, Dissociation , Dissociative identity disorder, Bipolar, Schizophrenia, eating disorders and personality disorders including Multiple personalities.Other diagnosises associated with trauma are not just mental but physical problems. Children exposed to tramatic events have a greater likelihood of having diseases such as heart disease diabetes and substance abuse. They are more likley to have intestinal issues. Exposure to trauma will follow them well into adulthood.As far as diagnosises go I know there are more to come as my grands reach new stages in their developments. I can look at the symptoms listed above and for almost each one I can attach one or more of my grands names.In doing research I am not just finding information but I am also preparing myself for things to come. I am being a detective and looking for signs or clues in hoping that early intervention will minimize the effects on my grands.As always continue to follow my blog as i raise these beautiful souls. Questions and comments are welcomed . In the mean time I will continue to research and write. Thanks for following along.