Topic > The Importance of Educating People About Adverse Childhood Experiences

AbstractThe Adverse Childhood Experiences Study provides important education to health care providers that can change the course of children's lives. Unfortunately, this is not routinely explained to patients in primary care. Implementing his teachings would have a significant positive benefit for today's children. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay ACE StudyThe Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study highlighted by the Children's Trust Fund analyzed by classroom is not alone in finding its findings. The connection between early childhood exposures, experiences, and trauma is found repeatedly in other studies that have produced similar findings. As providers, nurses, and doctors we must be acutely aware of these all-too-sad, but true connections. The strength of impact that any event, up to the conditions of daily life, has on adult health, behavior and even death related to the outcomes of risk factors is significant (Felitti, et. al., 1998). As the ACE study suggests, even small childhood experiences can shape our social behavior and even physical health. Children raised in terrible conditions; such as violent families, repeated bullying and stress have been shown to have more negative risk factors for their health when they reach adulthood. The ACE study outlines the real physiological impacts of what they call “toxic stress.” Children exposed to these negative situations and stressors release more cortisol related to the fight-or-flight response. Unfortunately, having such a frequent chemical response, as with repeated exposures, physical damage to the brain can occur. Specifically, it was discovered that the brain areas of learning and memory are most affected by this overexposure. Because healthcare professionals, by recognizing situations that appear to be high in toxic stress, can provide an opportunity for intervention. Interviewing children during visits to the emergency room or doctor's office without the presence of parents or guardians may be the most effective means for this purpose. The sooner we can recognize a child at risk for this real physical change in the brain, the better it will be for him. We could actually save adult lives from being cut short by properly interviewing pediatric patients, their parents, and recognizing the signs of toxic stress. As we have found many times in our workplaces and health clinics; Education is an extremely important component of prevention. There are many stereotypes about children that can negatively influence positive and protective factors. Some examples witnessed in the medical field include the lack of understanding regarding pain control in children. Just because they can't verbalize their needs and feelings doesn't necessarily mean they don't feel pain or have other symptoms. According to the hypotheses made possible by the ACE study, this could lead to mistrust or even improper use of substances in the future for fear of repeating this previous experience. Another example might include the failure of health workers to intervene, even though required by law in some places, when possible situations of abuse or poor living conditions are suspected. This directly prepares the child for future negative outcomes and puts them at risk for high-risk behaviors as a coping mechanism that can have a lifelong effect on their health. The survey results of the study.