Disorder of Infancy, Childhood, or Adolescence Not Otherwise Specified
Andrea Barkoukis, M.A., Natalie Staats Reiss, Ph.D., and Mark Dombeck, Ph.D.The Disorder of Infancy, Childhood or Adolescence, Not Otherwise Specified (or NOS) diagnosis is a residual category which is used for children when it is clear that some childhood disorder ought to be diagnosed, but clinicians do not yet have enough information about the child's difficulties to make a more specific diagnosis. Over time, as more diagnostically important information becomes available (e.g., as a result of testing, behavioral observation, medical record review and interviews), it is common practice for NOS diagnoses to be discarded so that more specific diagnoses can be made.
The NOS diagnosis is also made when clinicians encounter a symptom presentation that simply does not fit cleanly into any other known disorder of childhood diagnostic category. When used in this fashion, the NOS diagnosis is treated as a catch-all category where disorders with symptoms that may be similar to other disorders and are significant enough to cause impairment (but do not meet full DSM criteria) may be lumped together.
Resources
Articles
- Introduction to Disorders of Childhood
- Intellectual Disabilities
- Motor Skills Disorders
- Learning Disorders
- Communication Disorders
- Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders
- ADHD and Disruptive Behavior Disorders
- Disorders of Childhood: Attention-Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders
- Diagnosis of Conduct Disorder
- Treatment of Conduct Disorder
- Treatment of Conduct Disorder Continued
- Introduction to Oppositional Defiant Disorder
- Treatment of Oppositional Defiant Disorder
- Disruptive Behavior Disorder NOS and Recommended Reading for Conduct Disorder / ODD
- Feeding and Elimination Disorders
- Anxiety Disorders
- Reactive Attachment Disorder
- Stereotypic Movement Disorder
- Tic Disorders
- Infancy, Childhood or Adolescence, Not Otherwise Specified
News
- Sleep Problems in Early Childhood Linked to Teens' Mental Health Issues
- FDA Approves 'Prescription Video Game' for Kids With ADHD
- Pandemic Causing Havoc for Kids With ADHD
- Home Alone: Will Pandemic's Changes Harm Kids' Mental Health Long-Term?
- Pandemic Can Overwhelm Those With Autism
- Uncles, Aunts May Influence a Child's Odds for Autism
- Could Umbilical Cord Blood Help Ease Autism?
- Watch Out for Your Teen's Mental Health
- Sudden Obsessions, Tantrums: What Is PANS in Kids?
- Screen Time for Tiniest Tots Linked to Autism-Like Symptoms
- 7 more
- Too Little Sleep Takes Toll on Kids' Mental Health: Study
- American Teens Struggling With Mental Health Issues
- Sleepless Babies May Face Emotional Troubles as Kids
- Teen Moms at High Risk for Depression, Anxiety
- Getting Quality Autism Therapy From Thousands of Miles Away
- Could a Common Diuretic Med Help Ease Autism Symptoms?
- Guideline Changes Have Asperger's Community on Edge
Links
Videos
- Disruptive Behaviors in Children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder
- New Genetic Tools to Treat Autism and Pediatric Neurological Disorders
- What Is Asperger's?
- Conditions May Mimic ADHD
- Autism Early Intervention
- Minority Children May Miss Autism Diagnosis
- Anxiety and Teen Girls with Lisa Damour, PhD
- Autism and Minorities
- FYI on ADHD Evaluations
- Teaching Grit, Perseverance and Frustration Tolerance to Students with ADHD
- 87 more
- Does my Child Have ADHD?
- The Role of Psychotropic Medication in Children’s Mental Health
- Catching Autism Early
- 5 Signs Your Teenager is Battling Depression
- Identifying and Treating Anxiety in Kids and Teens
- Child Anxiety, It’s Real
- The World of Autism PSA
- Helping Children Cope with Anxiety
- Screening for Depression in Kids
- Learning the Signs of Autism
- What is Autism?
- Understanding Autism
- Recognizing OCD
- Addressing Childhood Anxiety
- Creating the Best Learning Environment for Students with ADHD
- Department of Education Guidance Broadens Understanding of 504 Rights for Kids with ADHD Part II
- Ask The Expert: Neurofeedback Treatment for ADHD
- Talking About Child Mental Health: A Strategic Approach to Communications
- Kids and Depression
- Understanding Bipolar Disorder in Children
- Understanding and Supporting Young Adults with ADHD
- Helping Your Young Adult Become Independent
- Self-Advocacy Tips For Teens With ADHD
- Know the Differences Between Adult and Teen Depression
- The Perils of Adolescence
- ADHD: Signs, Symptoms, Research
- Focus on ADHD
- Autism & Asperger's: What's The Difference?
- Screening for Signs of Autism
- My Child Won't Eat: Diagnosing Pediatric Feeding Disorders
- Pediatrics: Child Eating Disorders - Part 2
- Pediatrics: Child Eating Disorders - Part 1
- Pediatrics: ADHD and Food Allergies
- ADHD Treatment
- ADHD: It's a Family Affair
- Does Your Child Have ADHD?
- ADHD in Children
- Too Scared: Social Anxiety Disorder
- Anorexia Nervosa Video
- Beyond the Data -- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- 10 Common Warning Signs of a Mental Health Condition in Teens and Young Adults
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Adolescent Depression
- Behavioral Activation: Treatment of Adolescent Depression
- NAMI's Ask the Doctor Calls--Dialectical Behavior Therapy
- NAMI Ending the Silence - A mental health awareness program for teens
- Finding Effective Mental Health Treatment for Children
- Treating Childhood OCD
- Treating Youth with Bipolar Disorder
- Treating Tourette Syndrome
- Treating Autism
- Treating Depression in Youth
- Medication Treatment for ADHD
- Using Time Out
- Treating Childhood ADHD
- Treating Youth Anxiety and Social Phobia
- 5 Ways Technology Can Complement Mental Health Services
- What it’s like to have a brother on the autism spectrum
- ADHD-friendly Summer Family FUNdamentals
- Autism Jargon: Pica
- Is Asperger’s Included in the DSM5?
- Overcoming Anxiety in Children and Teens
- How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime
- Back-to-School Anxiety
- How the Diagnosis of Autism Helps Us Learn More About Autism
- Breaking the Silence, Breaking the Cycle Honoring Youth Voices
- A Frontline to ADHD
- Interview: Sleep Disorders: Caryn, Mom of Riley
- Sleep Problems in Kids
- Advice on Telling Your Teen they have ASD
- Understanding Girls with ADHD
- What is ADHD?
- School Anxiety! Activities To Help Kids and Teens Manage It
- Social Intervention Helps Adults With Autism
- Childhood Apraxia of Speech: Information for Parents
- Recognizing and Treating Problematic Fear and Anxiety in Children
- "Crazy" Girl– On Surviving and Thriving with Mental Illness
- Speech and Language Disorders
- Overview of possible causes and types of problems in speech development
- Is It ADHD?
- Autism Signs
- Common Childhood Illnesses & Immunizations
- Managing Anxiety in Youth: More Action Than Talk
- Irritability in Children - How Parents Can Help
- Altering the Course: First Episode Psychosis Intervention
- Psychosis in Youth: Risk Factors and Treatments
- Recent Advances in Anxiety - Children/Adolescents
Topics
Related Topic Centers
Abuse
ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Adoption
Autism
Child & Adolescent Development: Overview
Child & Adolescent Development: Puberty
Child Development & Parenting: Early (3-7)
Child Development & Parenting: Infants (0-2)
Child Development & Parenting: Middle (8-11)
Child Development & Parenting:Adolescence (12-24)
Child Development Theory: Adolescence (12-24)
Child Development Theory: Middle Childhood (8-11)
Childhood Mental Disorders and Illnesses
Childhood Special Education
Divorce
Family & Relationship Issues
Intellectual Disabilities
Learning Disorders
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Parenting
Self Esteem
Anxiety Disorders
Bipolar Disorder
Conversion Disorders
Depression: Depression & Related Conditions
Dissociative Disorders
Domestic Violence and Rape
Eating Disorders
Impulse Control Disorders
Intellectual Disabilities
Mental Disorders
Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
Personality Disorders
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Schizophrenia
Sexual Disorders
Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders
Suicide
Tourettes and other Tic Disorders