Working with Children and Adolescents
Consider the special skills necessary to promote performance with children and adolescents. What particular vulnerabilities do child and adolescent athletes have that adult athletes do not?
What impairments do you think may be more common in children and adolescents?
Evaluation Criteria for Discussion Question Response:
[6/6] - Accurately identified and described particular vulnerabilities in children and adolescent athletes.
[6/6] - Identified impairments specific to children and adolescents in sports.
[4/4] - Supported your response with references, texts, articles, and experience.
Case Illustration
Joshua is a 15-year-old boy, who is star pitcher of the freshman baseball team. He is also known to be a chronic bully in his neighborhood. He enjoys picking on his teammates with hurtful teasing and engages in fist fights with other teens, and these frequently result in Joshua hurting them. Joshua continually defies his parents and teachers and frequently breaks the rules at school.
His coach staunchly defends his misbehavior, often remarking, "Give the boy a break. He didn't mean to hurt anyone." Joshua uses his status on the baseball team to worm his way out of responsibilities.
Joshua has been suspended from school twice, during the off-season. He can be exceptionally charming and flattering when he wants something from someone. He doesn't seem to be bothered by lying to his friends, teachers, parents, or the coach when it suits his purposes.
What are the diagnostic possibilities you observe in the above case? Provide your rationales for the differential diagnosis of at least three diagnostic possibilities.
Evaluation Criteria for Discussion Question Response:
[6/6] - Synthesized the presenting case information and derived at three possible diagnoses consistent with that information.
[6/6] - Drew the relationship between each proposed diagnosis and the presenting information.
[4/4] - Supported your response with references, texts, articles, and experience.
All written assignments and responses should follow APA rules for attributing sources.