Trauma: "Trauma is an exceptional experience in which powerful and dangerous events overwhelm a person's capacity to cope." (Rice & Groves, 2005).
Complex Trauma: "The child's exposure to multiple or prolonged traumatic events and the impact of this exposure on their development. Typically, involves the simultaneous or sequential occurrence of child maltreatment (e.g. psychological maltreatment, neglect, physical and sexual abuse, and domestic violence), that is chronic, begins in early childhood, and occurs within the primary caregiving system. |
Brain Functioning
It is scientifically documented that trauma has a significant impact on the overall functioning of the brain. In order to complete higher order thinking and effectively implement self-regulatory strategies we must be able to function in the executive state. Unfortunately when our students come to school having experienced trauma, they are unable to immediately access this part of the brain since they are typically functioning in the survival state.
The landmark study conducted at Kaiser Permanente between 1995-1997, determined several traumatic events that were linked to creating gaps in brain functioning. These events are commonly referred to as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and include:
Individuals having experienced four or more ACEs were shown to be at a significant risk to future concerns with health and well-being as adults. The goal of schools is essentially to prepare students for their future and therefore have the increased responsibility of attempting to re-mediate these areas of need. We need highly skilled professionals who are prepared to meet students where they are and work to develop a safe and secure environment at school. Feel free to take the ACEs survey for yourself to see where you land at:
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Effects of TraumaTED talk on how childhood trauma can affects our overall health throughout our lifetime
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ACE Study ImpactSummary of the ACEs study and its impact on children
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Personal and Parental Impact of ACEsPersonal examples of how the ACEs impacted both their childhood and adulthood.
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Common Skill Deficits in Students Who Have Experienced Trauma
- Difficulty in working in groups
- Difficulty in efficiently being able to self-calm in a socially-appropriate fashion
- Difficulty in being able to handle making a mistake without losing their cool
- Difficulty following directions given by an authority
- Challenges with fine and/or gross motor coordination
- Difficulty being able to think abstractly
- Difficulty being able to accurately interpret social pleasantries of others
- Propensity to sensory over-stimulation
- Difficulty being able to organize their thinking (e.g., sequencing, processing) with ease and fluidity
- Difficulty with being able to use common social skills, including an awareness of their own escalation cycle