So Your Child’s Pre-School Teacher Says They Have OCD... What Now?

OCD, or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, is a condition that has many misconceptions. What is OCD? And what does it mean if your child is diagnosed with OCD or if their preschooler suspects it? What treatment options are available for treating OCD? How will OCD impact your child’s daily life?

For answers to these questions and more - including how to get a diagnosis of OCD for your child and what symptoms of OCD to look out for - read on below.

What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder? 

OCD is a mental health condition that affects 1-4% of children. OCD is most commonly diagnosed in older kids, around age 10 and up, but it can be diagnosed in younger children, as well older adolescents.

Although in our common vernacular, people might use the term ‘OCD’ as a term for being organized or neat, OCD is a mental health disorder that is characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. These obsessions and compulsions cause a lot of distress and anxiety for the person with OCD.

Obsessions

Obsessions tend to be experienced internally by a person with OCD. The sufferer will often experience intrusive or upsetting thoughts regularly or repetitively. 

Common signs of obsessive thoughts include:

• Extreme worry about bad things happening, like loved ones getting sick or dying
• Disturbing, unwanted thoughts of violent images
• Worrying about getting sick 
• A preoccupation with symmetry, order, or doing things in a particular way

Compulsions 

Compulsions are observed externally - these are behaviors that are enacted by the person with OCD as a means to alleviate their anxiety.

Common signs of compulsive behaviors include:

• Repetitive behaviors, like counting things over and over again
• Excessive hand washing, showering, or cleaning
• Repetitive rituals that must be done in a specific way, like turning the lights off in a particular way
• Re-arranging objects in a particular order or symmetrically
• Repeating sounds, words, or phrases out loud to themselves

What Causes OCD? 

There are a few different causes of OCD in children and in adults. One of the most common causes of OCD in children is genetics: researchers find that there is a strong family heritability element to OCD. If a child has family members with OCD, there is a stronger chance that they themselves will develop OCD. 

If you suffer from OCD and are pregnant and are worried about whether you will pass the condition onto your child, speak to your doctor or counselor for support and information. 

Another common cause of OCD is early life stress and trauma. Researchers have found a link between traumatic events that occur in childhood and developing OCD later in early adolescence.

OCD vs Perfectionism 

Some parents might wonder, how can you tell if your child might have OCD or if they’re just a perfectionist? What is the difference between OCD and perfectionism?

While OCD is a clinically diagnosable mental health condition, perfectionism is a broader descriptor of personality traits and characteristics that isn’t as well defined.

Perfectionism tends to be characterized by doing things in a particular way as a means to receive external validation from others - completing homework or a piece of artwork just right as a means to avoid scrutiny and receive praise. OCD on the other hand is rooted in avoiding and reducing anxiety - a child with OCD engages in repetitive behaviors because they’re trying to reduce their anxiety and protect themselves and others.

If a child just prefers to do things in a particular way, it’s more likely that they’re a perfectionist. However if a child shows distress or anxiety at not being able to enact their repetitive behaviors, to the point of having a meltdown or panic attack, it could potentially be a sign of OCD.

What To Do If Your Child's Preschool Teacher Suspects OCD 

It can be very distressing as a parent to be told by your child’s preschool teacher that they are concerned about your child, and think they may be suffering from OCD. 

If you are faced with this, as hard as it can be, try not to become defensive or lash out. Calmly ask to make a time to discuss their concerns properly, and remember that although they are teaching professionals, they aren’t a doctor, and can’t give an actual diagnosis. They do however spend a lot of time with your child and can therefore spot patterns in behavior.

If you yourself are concerned that your child might have OCD, it’s also a good idea to raise it yourself with your child’s preschool teacher in case they have had the same concerns but have been too nervous to approach you about it. 

It's then important to raise the issue with your child’s pediatrician. They can evaluate your child’s symptoms and may refer you to a specialist, such as a psychiatrist or another mental health professional. 

It’s a good idea to keep your child’s preschool teacher updated along the way so that they can make changes to their learning plans in order to best support them. They may also have useful resources for you and your child in terms of coping with the diagnosis. 

Getting a Diagnosis 

There is no genetic or blood test for OCD - it is diagnosed by examining your child’s symptoms and how they might align with the clinical diagnostic criteria. A clinician or expert in psychiatry will likely evaluate your child’s needs and symptoms through a conversation with your child and other adults in your child’s life.

Your child’s psychiatrist or pediatrician might also evaluate your child for other conditions that might co-occur with OCD or be a more accurate diagnosis than OCD, such as social anxiety, other anxiety disorders, depression, ADHD, Autism, and other related disorders.

Diagnosing and treating OCD earlier in a child’s life can help prevent their symptoms from getting worse over time. Untreated OCD can also negatively impact a child’s schoolwork and social relationships, so it’s important to seek out a diagnosis and treatment as early as possible. 

Effective Treatment for OCD 

Effective treatment for OCD usually involves supporting a child from multiple angles, including therapy, medications, family support, and school support. Everyone that’s an important part of your child’s life needs to be on board with creating a plan. 

Your child’s therapist will likely use common, evidence based therapeutic techniques to treat your child’s OCD: Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), which is a type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). ERP can help your child retrain their brain to lower their anxiety and distress, which in turn helps reduce obsessions and compulsions. This type of therapy can be even more effective when used in conjunction with medication.

Family and school involvement can also help support a child’s OCD treatment. Recognize some of the signs and signals that your child’s anxiety is increasing, and know that it might take time for your child’s symptoms to improve.

Finding Support for Children with OCD 

There are many different resources out there that can support children with OCD and their families:

• International OCD Foundation
• Local support groups for people with OCD
• Tips on finding the right therapist to treat OCD
• Advice on how teachers can help children with OCD
• How to Help Your Child: A Parent’s Guide to OCD
• Accessing special education services for children with OCD

If you or your child’s preschool teacher believes they have OCD or they’ve received an OCD diagnosis, know that you are not alone. Many parents are going through the same thing you’re experiencing, and there is help and support available to you.