“My Kid Has OCD – How Will This Impact Their Education?”
People often joke that they’re “so OCD” if they like their car clean or their pantry organized. But for kids who truly struggle with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, its symptoms are no laughing matter. OCD is an anxiety disorder that, if left untreated, can have a serious negative impact on a child’s education, friendships, and mental health.
So how does OCD impacts a child?
OCD is categorized by:
Obsessions – recurring thoughts that cause feelings of anxiety or disgust
Compulsions – repetitive behaviors used to gain relief from obsessive thoughts
Obsessions and compulsions overpower a child’s attention, making school difficult in the following ways:
1. Impaired concentration
A child’s obsessive thoughts are often of distressing images of violence or tragedy. They tend to fear that their thoughts may cause something terrible to happen, such as a loved one being injured or God getting offended. In school, they may seek relief from their thoughts with compulsions such as excessively organizing their desk or repeatedly checking for bugs in the carpet. These unrelenting thoughts and actions make it extremely difficult for kids to concentrate on learning.
2. Poor attendance
School is not a comfortable place for someone who’s terrified of illness or catastrophes, and kids with OCD are prone to taking extreme measures to avoid discomfort in the classroom. Frequent bathroom breaks or excessive visits to the school nurse are common attempts to go home and escape their stresses in class.
3. Social struggles
Obsessive thoughts can make it difficult for kids to enjoy social experiences like concerts, birthday parties, or Friday night football games. Kids with OCD are also prone to being bullied or called out on their bizarre behaviors. Comments like, “why do you keep tapping your neck?! You’re so weird!” can make kids avoid spending time with their peers.
4. Toxic perfectionism
OCD’s anxiety causes kids to develop unrealistic views of perfection. The painful pursuit of “feeling just right” can manifest in a variety of ways. They may get stuck in the mirror because no matter how much they pluck, their eyebrows are never perfectly symmetrical. They might be late to class because they have to check that their house is locked 13 times before they leave. Or they may erase and rewrite assignments repeatedly, even failing to turn work in because they just couldn’t get it right. Since these struggles can impact academic performance, kids with OCD sometimes qualify for accommodations through an IEP or 504 plan, such as extra testing time or computer use instead of handwriting assignments.
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5. Struggling in silence
Many kids with OCD are embarrassed or ashamed to talk about their struggles. They usually don’t understand the cause of their behaviors and are afraid of being viewed as bad or weird. When a child does muster the courage to tell someone they trust, they’re often met with harmful feedback like, “it’s all in your head,” or, “just stop doing it” – something they’re not able to do. This contributes to the child’s feelings of isolation and abnormality.
6. Unsupportive schooling
While roughly 1 in 100 kids are diagnosed with OCD, not every educator understands how to support students struggling with it. When students can’t stop compulsive actions, they’re sometimes viewed as defiant and are punished for something they can’t control. In addition, students with OCD are sometimes wrongfully labeled as having ADHD or other learning disorders. An accurate diagnosis by a qualified diagnostician is critical for a child’s appropriate academic support.
Concerned your child’s school isn’t supporting their emotional health and academic success? Click here to learn how an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) can help
7. Reduced quality of life
Parents want their kids to look back on their childhood as the most magical time in their lives. They want them to dream big for the future and pursue their ambitions. For kids with OCD, however, persistent fears prevent them from fully enjoying what life has to offer. Fortunately, with the right support kids can overcome OCD’s hold over their lives. If you’re concerned your child may have OCD, our specialists can provide diagnostic testing and guide you through the next steps in supporting your child.
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Variations Psychology is a group practice specializing in diagnostic testing to identify psychological conditions. Our primary focus is Educational Psychology, guiding families on beneficial pathways toward student success and training educators in effective strategies to maximize student potential.
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References:
Hagen, A. (2018) Helping Kids Succeed in School Despite OCD. Psych Central. Retrieved from https://psychcentral.com/lib/helping-kids-succeed-in-school-despite-ocd/
How Does OCD Affect Children in the Classroom? (2017). Indiana University Health. Riley Children’s Health. Retrieved from https://www.rileychildrens.org/connections/how-does-ocd-affect-children-in-the-classroom
Negreiros, J. (n.d.) Identifying and Supporting Students with OCD in Schools. Anxiety Canada. Retrieved from http://anxietycanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/ocdschools_0.pdf
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in Children and Teenagers (2009). International OCD Foundation. Retrieved from https://iocdf.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/OCD-in-Children-and-Teenagers-Fact-Sheet.pdf
OCD at School (n.d.) Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Retrieved from https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/ocd-at-school
OCD at School (n.d.) Beyond OCD. Retrieved from https://beyondocd.org/information-for-parents/helping-a-child-who-has-ocd/ocd-at-school
OCD at School (2009) International OCD Foundation. Retrieved from https://kids.iocdf.org/for-kids/ocd-at-school/
Shinn. M.M. (2020). Diagnostic Testing: 6 Reasons it’s the Best First Step Before Therapy or Educational Services. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/diagnostic-testing-6-reasons-its-the-best-first-step-before-therapy-or-educational-services
Shinn. M.M. (2018). How to Stop Anxiety in its Tracks. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/how-to-stop-anxiety-in-its-tracks
Shinn. M.M. (2020). Understanding Education Plans: A Parent’s Guide to 504s and IEPs. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/understanding-education-plans-a-parents-guide-to-504s-and-ieps
Shinn, M. M. (2020) Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs). Variations Psychology. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/educational-placement-assessments-dr-shinn
Teachers Guide to OCD in the Classroom (n.d.) Child Mind Institute. Retrieved from https://childmind.org/guide/a-teachers-guide-to-ocd-in-the-classroom/
How to Cite This Blog Article:
Shinn. M.M. (2020). My Kid Has OCD – How Will This Impact Their Education?Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/test-blog/my-kid-has-ocd-how-will-this-impact-their-education