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Inadequate Nurturing is only one of many risk factors for poor growth and development and unusual behavior. Other factors are present in the orphanages which can affect growth, development and behavior:
lack of sensory and movement experience
chaotic /disorganized environment OR
understimulating environment
Protein-calorie malnutrition, iron deficiency anemia, specific vitamin deficiencies
infectious diseases, especially untreated chronic ear infections, parasites
pain
excessive cold or heat exposure
trauma / abuse / fear
medical practices & procedures
boredom
thyroid disorders (highly prevalent in many regions)
Other hormone disorders
toxic exposures
Teratogenic factors ("birth defects"):
fetal alcohol syndrome/effects
maternal malnutrition
genetic disorders
maternal thyroid disorders
toxic exposures due to industry, alcohol, smoking, environment
lack of access to medical care
Many factors affect these children during the adoption process as well! Their impact should not be discounted or minimized, and you would be well-advised to educate yourself about adjustment issues in adoption. I highly recommend Lois Melina's book, Raising Adopted Children, as a start.
Genuine and appropriate Fear of Strangers
(even these wonderful adoptive parents!)
Language issues
(more important than you might think!)
Dealing with separation and loss
(possible unrecognized attachments)
Loss of routine / unfamiliar environment
Unfamiliar system of discipline
Stress from medical procedures
Total lack of familiarity with just about everything
Parental stress
All these new sights, sounds, smells and emotional sensations may be quite scary to a kid who has never been outside of 3 rooms, or given individual attention for more than a few minutes at a time! Imagine being kidnapped by aliens and taken away on a spaceship to some strange place where nothing is what you can anticipate, they are poking you with needles and shining lights on you, you are overwhelmed with loud sounds and physical sensations you have never experienced, you feel ill, the stuff they try to feed you is strange, nothing smells right, the clothes itch and constrict you in ways you have never experienced before. Their language is indecipherable. When you try to tell them what is bothering you, they hold you closer and talk to you in gentle tones but do nothing to relieve your anxiety or suffering because they do not understand that what they are doing really scares you. They do not respond to you in predictable ways, they move you around and put you near loud and buzzing things that feel (Continued on page 14)
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