Clinical Characteristics of Children and Adolescents Applying for a Special Needs Report for Children

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients who applied for Special Needs Reports for Children (SNRFC). Material and Methods: 652 children and adolescents who applied to the medical board of a university hospital for SNRFC between April 2023 and May 2024 were included in the study. Demographic and clinical data were obtained by retrospective file review. Results: The mean age of the patients was 8.65 ± 4.15 years. The most common diagnosis in the child and adolescent psychiatry area was specific learning disorder (39.2%). When comparing the psychiatric diagnoses of male and female participants, the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders and atypical autism was significantly higher in males than in females. When psychiatric diagnoses are evaluated according to age groups, autism spectrum disorder diagnosis was found to be significantly higher in cases younger than 6 years of age, and delayed milestone and specific learning disorder diagnoses were found to be significantly higher in cases aged 6 years and older. Conclusion: It is thought that the results of the study will contribute to the clinical approach of physicians working in the field of child and adolescent mental health and diseases in the evaluation process of children who apply to the health board for SNRFC.

Keywords

• Child and adolescent psychiatry
• special needs
• health board

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