adoptioncounselor.com Akron Children s Hospital Adoption Counselin...

Akron Children s Hospital Adoption Counseling ServicesAdoption Counseling EXPLORING A CHILD S HEALTH HISTORY Every child deserves a loving home. But not all prospective parents are the perfect match for every child. Many adoptive children often face unique health challenges, including medical, psychological and developmental issues. Exploring the child s health history is a critical step in the pre-adoption process. Prospective parents who are fully prepared and knowledgeable, and who understand their own desires and abilities, can best meet the expected needs of a particular child. COMMON ADOPTIVE HEALTH ISSUES Children who have lived in orphanages and other environments with poor health conditions are at particular risk for developmental delays, fetal alcohol syndrome, lead poisoning and infectious diseases, including scabies, lice, latent tuberculosis, intestinal parasites and rickets. Few children in these environments receive proper immunizations. Children also can have a difficult time transitioning from an orphanage or foster life to their new adoptive family. Other common concerns for adoptive children include: anemia hepatitis B and C human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) impaired hearing and vision metabolic disorders thyroid conditions Complicating matters, it often can be difficult to obtain accurate and complete medical records for an adopted child, especially if they have lived in multiple foster homes or in an orphanage. PRE-ADOPTIVE HEALTH CONSULTATION Doctors who specialize in adoptive health are available to guide you through the process of researching a child s health history. They are experienced in identifying and treating the physical, developmental and emotional issues that are uniquely and commonly associated with adoptive children, both domestically and internationally. They will work with you to engage in a pre-adoption medical consultation once a child has been identified for adoption. During the pre-adoption medical con...