Practitioner review: The assessment and treatment of deaf children with psychiatric disorders

The assessment and treatment of deaf children with psychiatric disorder is intimately related to the individual child's communication, which in turn i s affected by a number of factors, medical, social, and cultural. The deafn ess can be aetiologically related to the psychiatric disorder or can be inc idental. Treatment: strategies should be adapted to meet the individual chi ld and family's needs. Deaf professionals have a vital role in mental healt h services for this population. The use of an interpreter can clarify commu nication and cultural issues for deaf and hearing children, families, and p rofessionals.