Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) are considered to be potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood, ages 0 to 17 years old. Examples of traumatic events are; experiencing violence in the home or community (toxic stress does not differentiate), being a victim of abuse (physical, sexual, mental), bullying, or having a family member attempt or die by suicide.

ACEs also include aspects of a child’s environment that may undermine their sense of safety, stability and bonding; such as growing up in a household with substance abuse problems, mental health problems, instability due to separation of parents, involvement in the child welfare system which may lead to separation from caregivers, or household members being in jail or prison.

Research has linked ACEs scores to a variety of health conditions, mental health disorders, learning difficulties, and behavioral issues in children. According to Center of the Developing Child at Harvard University (developingchild.hardvard.edu), a child who experiences multiple ACEs over time without supportive adult relationships to lessen the impact, will suffer from excessive and long-lasting stress response which can have a wear-and-tear effect on the body.

The more ACEs a child experiences, the greater the likelihood that they will suffer from heart disease, liver disease, obesity, diabetes, substance misuse and even cancer in adulthood. ACEs does not discriminate, and children of all races and socioeconomic backgrounds are at risk. The most ideal form of prevention is ensuring that children’s basic needs are being met, and they are surrounded by caring, supportive adult relationships that will serve as buffers against toxic stress. Without caring adults, brain development will cease, leading to an adverse effect on learning, mental health, physical health, and behavior.

The good news is that the impact of ACEs can be mitigated, however it must be detected early in a child’s life, and interventions such as therapy, meditation, extracurricular activities, and exercise can help (list is not exhaustive). Mental health practitioners, educators, policy makers, and communities at large, must be committed to raising awareness in addition to formulating ways to alleviate the impact of adverse childhood experiences. All children deserve a chance to thrive in a healthy environment; and every child deserves a life free from ACEs.

Do you know your ACE score? Complete the questionnaire below.

Stevens, Jane (1 January 2017). “Got Your ACE, Resilience Scores?” acesconnection.com.

Click Link to Listen to podcast, or listen on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google, IHeartRadio or wherever you listen to your podcasts: https://www.spreaker.com/user/12686448/dr-tori-williams

Additional Resources

CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences Study.

 “What Are ACEs? And How Do They Relate to Toxic Stress?”. Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. Retrieved 10 February2020.

Pearce, J; Murray, C; Larkin, W (July 2019). “Childhood adversity and trauma: experiences of professionals trained to routinely enquire about childhood adversity”

Anda RF; Felitti VJ; Bremner JD; et al. (April 2006). “The enduring effects of abuse and related adverse experiences in childhood”. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience. 256 

Disclaimer

Please do not consider any such information provided to you by this Blog post (blackfeministpost.com) or Podcast (Dr.Tamaru Speaks)to be medical advice that is in any way suitable to your circumstances; nor should you use any information you receive as an alternative to medical advice received from your doctor or your mental health care professional. Please consult a qualified professional if you have any questions or concerns that relates to your own life situation. You should not delay obtaining medical or mental health advice, disregard medical or mental health advice, or discontinue medical or mental health treatment previously received because of information obtained as a result of this Blog post or Podcast. This is for informational purposes only, and is not meant to treat or diagnose.- Dr.Tamaru