We have been referred a 5th child that we just found out has HbH disease ( a kind of Thalassemia intermediate). The orphanage in Taiwan says that the parents are denying being carriers and are being genetically tested and that the other 3 children of the birthparents do not have the condition. Is this a life threatening ailment or a chronic medical condition that may be medically managed?

I have heard the term "institutional autism" as being a complication of living in an institution or orphanage. Autism sounds like a very scary word and I am nervous about this condition. Could you explain this diagnosis and what are the expected outcomes for these children?

What are some of the signs and behavioral presentations exhibited by a sexually abused child?

RAD is a common yet under diagnosed entity in internationally adopted children. Could you explain this condition?

I have a referral of a little boy that is suspected of having Goldenhar Syndrome. After a lot of research, I have found that he does not have many of the features of this syndrome (no hearing or vision problems reported). How is this diagnosis made and what is the outlook for a child with this problem?

I have heard that many Institutionalized children exhibit many peculiar behaviors shortly after arriving home. Can you described some of these behaviors and what does a new adoptive parent need to do to help over come these behaviors?

My child who is 20 months old has a problem with persistent diarrhea. H e had the post-adoption medial workup and nothing came back positive. I just do not understand why his bowels are so loose if there is nothing medically going on with him?

What are the recommended psychological screening tests and evaluations for the newly adopted post-institutionalized children?

There is an orphan available with a condition called MICROOPHTHALMIA. She is 18mos old and is blind in one eye. Can you tell me more about this condition? Can anything be done to regain her vision? Is this condition linked with a syndrome that may not be showing yet?

You have introduced Adoption Stress. Is this the same as Post-Adoption Depression? Who is likely to experience it and how can it be prevented?

We will be traveling to Russia to pick up our beautiful baby boy. What specifics in regards to travel do I need to know about in order to make it a safe and pleasant experience?

At a recent presentation, I heard Dr. Lerner use the words, "Adoption Stress." Could he explain the concept here?

Because a high percentage of internationally adopted children are Asian and therefore naturally prone to lactose intolerance issues, can you discuss Giardia’s effects on a child’s ability to digest lactose?

What are the Recommended Screening Tests and Evaluations for newly adopted Post Institutionalized child?

I have heard that parents who seek to adopt children are often required to undergo extensive psychological evaluations? Is this true? And, if it is, what should my husband and I expect in this process?

How to choose a Pediatrician for your Internationally adopted child?

Preparing to Know Your Child

I am journeying overseas to adopt Internationally. I will hopefully be taking my toddler and adolescent on this trip. What can I do to ensure a healthy and enjoyable trip for my family?

We just received a referral for a 14 month-old Russian girl. Her orphanage medical records are surprisingly detailed. I am concerned about her head measurements (microcephaly?) as they are consistently below the 3rd percentile on the CDC charts. I have read that it is easier to make measurement mistakes erring to the small side than to the large side. Perhaps I am making too much of this; but I have read several articles stressing the significance of this condition when it exceeds 2 Standard Dev

What are some of the adoption issues teenagers face?

While it is difficult to make a general statement about such a diverse group as adopted teenagers, it can be said that adopted persons generally lead normal healthy lives that are no different from the lives of non- adopted persons. They may; however have experiences that are unique to being adopted, and these issues may have an impact on their lives at varying times.

What are some the medical concerns and health issues associated with International adoption from Guatemala?

Are Intestinal parasites common in orphan children? What do I as an adoptive parent need to know?

"The two-year old boy we have been referred, has a diagnosis for diabetes on his medical. We are open to special needs, but what would this entail in this case?

Do malnourished internationally adopted children suffer from Iron deficiency anemia? Could this be a probable cause of the child's developmental delay? What do I as an adoptive parent need to be aware of?

Do malnourished internationally adopted children suffer from Iron deficiency anemia? Could this be a probable cause of the child's developmental delay? What do I as an adoptive parent need to be aware of?

I adopted a child from Russia and on my Post-Adoption evaluation it was discovered that he has a positive PPD.
Does this mean that he is contagious to my family and what is the course of treatment for my child?

I have a video and medical on a 10 year old little girl from Russia. She appears very normal and healthy.Her medical history says she has had streptodermia and acute glomerulonephritis (hematuria type). Chronic glomerulonephritis in remission. What is this medical problem?

When I adopted my daughter (dob 12-28-01), the orphanage doctor emphasized
that I should have her evaluated by a pediatric neurologist. Initially, I did not see any reason for it, but then she had an MRI for evaluation of a possible tethered spinal cord. It was inconclusive, and she is scheduled for a second MRI in mid-February. The area on her back that caused her pediatrician to suspect the condition seems slightly larger than it did in September. If she does have this condition, can you tell me anything about the surgery to correct it--what to expect, recovery, long-term effects of the condition, etc?

"My referral's medical info states that the child tested positive for syphilis at birth? What further questions should I ask - can I still consider this referral?"

What are some of the medical issues encountered in children adopted internationally?

What is it about Institutions and Orphanages that make them so detrimental to a child’s overall health and development?

"Enuresis: Our newly adopted 4 year old son wets his bed every night, even when we withdraw liquids before bedtime, what can we do?"

I have heard than many orphanage children that has developmental delay may also suffer from Zinc deficiency? Is this correct and what can we do to manage it ?

"Is Leukemia is a problem specific to children adopted from China? Is there a test that could be performed for leukemia prior to adopting, and most importantly, does hereditary a play a key factor in the diagnosis?"

You write frequently about the impact of traumatic stress with adoptive children. Could you address the impact of traumatic stress experienced by the parents of adoptive children?

Should an Internationally adopted child be screened for H. Pylori even if he/she seem asymptomatic?

" The little girl that My husband and I may be adopting from KAZAKHSTAN was taken away from her mother because her mother was DX with oligophrenia and was unable to care for her. (this scares me because I teach mentally handicapped children and I know many of them have low IQ parents. I also know that environment is a factor. The little girl is almost 2 and she is described as normal development but does have a dx of rickets. What are the chances of oligophrenia being hereditary???"

Please let me know if a child with a diagnosed "sponge kidney" would
have serious health concerns in the future?

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by infection with the hepatitis C virus. The virus causes liver inflammation, which interferes with proper liver function. It can eventually lead to severe, permanent liver damage and cirrhosis and may be complicated by liver cancer. Because the initial symptoms are mild, hepatitis C often goes unnoticed until years later when liver damage is discovered. Maternal-infant transmission is not common.

We are considering adopting a child who is a carrier of Hepatitis C antibodies. We have other children at home. Are we posing a risk to our other children?"

Poor visual acuity is one of the most important medical factors that can contribute to poor behavioral, developmental and academic achievement in a child if left untreated.

The actual country of birth of the child is irrelevant, but there has been a documented increased prevalence of eye problems such as Strabismus and ambyopia in the internationally adopted child, especially the ones that were adopted from Eastern European countries.

"What challenges can be expected when arthrogryposis is indicated on the adoptive child's medical record?"

My referrals initial Hepatitis B screen was positive at birth, but a follow-up screening test showed a negative result what does this mean?

On the post-adoption medical examination, my son who was adopted from Russia had something called Giardia in the school. Why did he get this disease and how serious is it?

Can immunization records from orphanages be relied upon, given that vaccinations in third-world nations often are not on par with accepted standards?

I would like to know about Salmonella in a institutionalized child. Our child had acquired it twice....first at 4 mos....then again was hospitalized for it at 8 months. Is there a deficiency that we should be aware of that keeps him from not contracting this? Also, should we be aware of serious long term effects of Salmonella?

Tuberculosis Screening in the Internationally Adopted Child

We just received a referral of a 1 year old child to evaluate. The report states that she has "dysplasia of coxofermoral joints". I'm wondering if this is the same as "hip dysplasia" which I understand appears on a lot of referrals.

I have heard that Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is more common among adoptive children than the general population. Is this true? And, if so, why?

What are some of the health concerns and social issues associated with international adoption from China?

"We are in the referral stage of an adorable 15 month old baby girl. Her medical reports state that she has had perinatal contact with HIV. The baby has since been tested Negative twice for HIV. What should we know before we proceed?"

While reviewing the adoption medical abstract you may come across a cardiac finding that may require further investigation. It is important to determine if there is any cardiac abnormality which may affect the development of the child. There are some congenital heart conditions (those that you are born with) which can occur for a variety of reasons. Some may be due to maternal infections during the pregnancy, medical conditions like Diabetes or Lupus, or result from maternal drug or alcohol use.

I have a Blind referral but I would feel more comfortable if a medical professional reviews my child’s data and video while I am traveling overseas. How can I prepare the medical package and how do I get the data back home in a timely fashion?

My child was born with a cleft lip/palate deformity, what do I need to know?

I have heard that many internationally adopted children are at risk for Reactive Attachment Disorder. What is this disorder and what are some of the signs that parents should look for?

"After arriving home how can I help ease the transition from orphanage life to family life?"

What are some strategies that I as parent can implement to help my child rehabilitate from the institutional care setting?...

"I would like to know if anyone should adopt a child that is HIV- (tested at birth and at 10 mos both neg) but born to a mom HIV +, What worries should we have if we accept this referral? "

We were just referred a 7 month old boy that was born at 35-36 weeks. The medical report we received says that the neurologist diagnosed him as having "perinatal lesion of central nervous system." In June and August, the notation "early recovery period" was on the report. In October, the notation was "late recovery period."
Is "perinatal lesion of CNS" something that you frequently see? How concerned should we be?

Why is sleeping a major issue with my internationally adopted child?

Although every child grows differently and there are variations of what is considered developmentally “within normal limits”, there are specific milestones that all children should reach by certain milestones ages.

Is child abuse more prevalent in parents who adopt a child Internationally as opposed to parents who have biological children?

I am wondering how you differentiate a child suffering from ADHD from a child who was raised for 2.5 years in an orphanage and has very limited early life data.

The small parasites that reside on our scalps and lead to a great deal of itchiness are called head lice. They live on the blood they manage to suck from our heads. It is due to this that head lice that have no human hosts do not live for a long time. A mother louse usually births about six eggs per day. Eight days from such, baby lice are hatched and transform into full adults after two weeks. A person infested with lice will usually have a dozen of them adults living in his head at a single time, but there are generally hundreds of eggs around just waiting to hatch.

"What are the Recommended Screening Tests and Evaluations for newly adopted Post Institutionalized children?"

Childhood Onset Bipolar Disorder and the Internationally adopted child

Can Fetal alcohol syndrome be distinguished by doctors and is there a test that can be performed to help with the diagnosis?

I am considering this sibling group from Russia (Vladimir), two girls 5 and 8 years old. On the medical report of the younger child, it states that she has had Rickets but her health is now good. It does not state what caused rickets. My concern is that she will have future medical problems from this. What do I need to know and what should I expect?

What are some of the medical issues encountered in children adopted internationally?

What is post-traumatic stress and how does it manifest in the young institutionalized child?

What are some of the psycho-medical and social effects of natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina on children living through this traumatic event?

What symptoms suggest that an adoptive child has been exposed to a significant traumatic event?

I am adopting a 3 ½ y/o child from Russia. From a parents point of view, this child looks pretty normal yet his medical record is full of scary diagnosis. Can you explain what these diagnosis actually mean and do they really mean something or can they just be dismissed as just non-relevant medical jargon?

Adoption Travel Options

So many questions come to mind. So many variables to consider.

Adopted granddaughter is obsessing about her birth mother.

Is Hepatitis A infection something that I should worry about in my internationally adopted child?

My referral is a special needs newborn with bilateral clubfoot. What is this condition and is it correctable?

You write frequently about the impact of traumatic stress with adoptive children. Could you address the impact of traumatic stress experienced by the parents of adoptive children?

Nothing creates adult anger like children lying. It's ironic since it's usually adults who set the child up to lie. This is how it works:

I am adopting a 3 ½ y/o child from Russia. From a parents point of view, this child looks pretty normal yet his medical record is full of scary diagnosis. Can you explain what these diagnosis actually mean and do they really mean something or can they just be dismissed as just non-relevant medical jargon?

How important is it to maintain the child’s original language, especially if the Adoptive child is older when he arrives home?

VIETNAM ADOPTION: THE ADOPTION HOME STUDY AND MEETING THE ADOPTION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

This handsome little guy looks healthy and happy. He has a wonderful smile for those he knows but he tends to be more of a serious baby. This little boy "was born with a heart condition that has been diagnosed as Tetrology of the Fallot (TOF). " What medical requirements might this child have?

What Impacts the Home Study: Who May Adopt

My partner and I have been living in a loving relationship for 5 years and have our wedding date set for October 2007 will this be a problem regarding adoption?

"How do I get my nine-year-old daughter to school? She seems to have tummy aches or headaches constantly, and misses several days of school each week. Any suggestion that she must go and she screams and cries and seems to be genuinely afraid of going to school. What can we do?"

How Adoption Impacts Children at School

What can the adoption community do as a whole in order to better prepare their families for International adoption?

The practice of placing a child who is of one race or ethnic group with adoptive parents of another race or ethnic group is commonly referred to as transracial or transculturual adoption and for many people continues to be a controversial topic

Urinating while asleep, also called nocturnal enuresis, is common in children. It is messy and upsetting, but as it is unintentional, it is simply a sign of a developing body growing adapted to sleeping without diapers. Bedwetting in teenagers and adolescents, however, may be worrisome for parents; it can be awkward for older children, and is considered a physical symptom of deeper troubles in a teenager or adolescent.

Is your children's whining driving you crazy? Why do they do that?! Because they've learned that it gets them what they want. (You've inadvertently taught them that.) To get them to change their behavior, you will have to change yours: you will have to respond differently.

Why is the newborn screening program important for babies being adopted internationally from Guatemala?

Adoption: The Elementary School Years

Q. I have a stepdaughter who is four years old. Her real mother whom she visits on weekends is in and out of jail; she has 86 felonies. Each visit leaves the child distraught; she gets depressed and sinks into her shell.

One may question, is it fair or right for an adult adoptee to expect his/her adoptive parents to now associate in family gatherings with his/her biological family?

What should one look for when contracting with a social worker for a home study?

Parents with a drug possession misdemeanor 30 years ago, can this affect the home study?

What steps are needed in order for my internatioanlly adopted child to start school in the U.S.?

Childhood years are the best times to learn. Somehow, a person’s comprehension is at its peak during childhood. Parents should take advantage of these learning years to ingrain the values of life in their children.

What is an adoptive parent profile?