Conclusion

On completing this course, you have explored some of the complexities of child development. Within the context of childhood asthma, these have included the development of the respiratory system, elements of the process of respiratory assessment and diagnosis, and both day-to-day management and acute hospital treatment of the condition. Additionally, you had had the opportunity to explore both family and personal experiences related to childhood asthma.

In relation to intellectual and developmental disorders, you have looked at some of the important points related to what it means to have a learning disability and points around communication and being heard. You have considered the perspectives of family members and what it was like for them to have their child receive a diagnosis of a learning disability. You have had the opportunity to build your knowledge and understanding of the situations that some of these people may be in and to identify which skills you may need to develop in order to help them effectively.

Finally, you have been given the opportunity to understand how young people experience mental health disorders and the services associated with them, along with the impact social media can have on their wellbeing. You have explored and learned more about the impacts that social media can have on a young person. Social media does have its positives, in terms of connecting people and bringing them closer together, but it can also isolate people and make them feel worse about who they are. You have researched the benefits and costs of social media and looked at the impact it can have on how someone thinks about themselves.

Through Lola’s case study, you can see how social media may contribute to someone experiencing a dangerous mental health problem. You’ve seen what else may have caused Lola to begin an unhealthy eating pattern, such as the stresses of school and the pressures that modern life brings. You’ve also been able to see what kinds of treatment Lola had, and research more on those treatments and what sorts of things Lola and her mum may have done together in family-based treatment. Through hearing from Lola herself, you have been able to see the recovery process she’s gone through and how she’s reflected on her experiences. This will have hopefully have given you an insight into the pressures young people face today.

This OpenLearn course is an adapted extract from the Open University course K234 Healthcare theory for practice [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] .