The Academy has always been at the forefront of identifying and responding to the critical health needs of children and adolescents. We are at a unique juncture, however, when systems that address physical health, behavioral health, early education and child welfare all are converging to address a key issue that impacts outcomes for children throughout their lives – namely, toxic stress.
The Section on Child Abuse and Neglect, along with other Academy groups, is focusing on translating neuroscience research into meaningful advances in pediatric practice so children and families affected by adversity can receive optimal care. For example, some symptoms of attention-deficit hypersensitivity disorder (inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity) might be a result of toxic stress during childhood.
Increasing concordant data are rapidly bridging the divide between research and pediatric practice. Largely ignored in the late 1990s, the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) studies by V. J. Felitti and colleagues created an awareness of the association between adverse childhood experiences and diseases and conditions affecting adult health. Evolving neuroscience is providing a better understanding of human biology to move the ACE study findings beyond association with disease to causation of disease.
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