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I talk to many parents who know that allergies can affect their child’s behaviour, moods and ability to learn. However, many people, including doctors and teachers are still not aware that allergies can have significant psychological effects, especially on children.
As far back as 1998, research at the National Jewish Medical and Research Center in the U.S. showed that a child with allergies is 10% more likely to have behaviour or psychological problems such as aggressiveness, depression and irritability than children without allergies (www.sciencedaily.com /releases/1998/09/980929111523.htm). Now, the figures seem to be even higher. I’d say that around one third of the children I see for allergies experiences some psychological or behavioural effects.
Patrick Holford, Director of the London-based Mental Health Project, says that “allergies to food can upset levels of hormones and other key chemicals in the brain, resulting in symptoms ranging from depression to schizophrenia”. However, the effects of food allergy may not be dramatic, and may appear up to two days after the culprit food has been eaten, so the relationship between food and behaviour is not often noticed. Yet according to a survey sponsored by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (2008), allergies interfere with school performance in at least 40% of children.
These psychological and behavioural effects can have a negative ripple effect on other aspects of the child’s life as well, especially when the allergies have not been diagnosed. Children whose allergies affect their mental performance can be labelled as ‘difficult’, ‘backwards’, even ‘retarded’ when their school performance and classroom behaviour deteriorate. They may have trouble forming and keeping friendships, and have strained relationships with long-suffering parents. The child’s self-esteem can suffer.
Even if the allergies are finally identified and treated, it might take a child a long time to recover a sense of worth and competence, and gain the self-confidence to realise his or her full potential.
I’d be very interested to hear from parents out there whose kids are emotionally or behaviourally affected by allergies. Your stories might just be a lifeline to other parents who are struggling to understand what’s going on with their child.
