Is Your Child Depressed? According to the American Academy of
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry about 5% of children and teens
suffer from depression serious enough to interfere with normal
functioning. And, not surprisingly, children with learning
disabilities have higher rates of depression than their non-LD
peers. Dr. Betty Osman, author of Learning Disabilities: A
Family Affair, is a psychologist whose specialty is treating
children with LD. She maintains that depression comes from the
disparity between what these kids are able to do and what they
should be able to do. Add to that the enormous pressures of
school, and she concludes, “There’s an awful lot of kids who are
feeling totally overwhelmed.” Recognizing the signs of
depression in your child is not always easy. Standard signs for
children (and adults) include lethargy, changes in eating
patterns, or sleeping difficulties. But other indicators
include: - Decline in school performance - Social withdrawal -
Excessive moodiness - Low energy - Lack of int