Complementary and alternative therapies: considerations for families after international adoption

Abstract

Children who are internationally adopted are at increased risk of developmental and behavioral concerns, including attention disorders, learning disorders, and autistic spectrum disorders. In attempting to promote their child's optimal development and well-being, parents of internationally adopted children are faced with the additional stress of having many unanswered and unanswerable questions about their child's early origins. As a result, internationally adopted children and their parents need the support and counsel of their pediatrician as they grow and develop into adulthood. A combination of traditional, complementary, and alternative therapies is the rule rather than the exception for most children with developmental challenges.