Living with Childhood-onset schizophrenia
A rare brain and mental health condition that begins before age 13 and affects learning, language, social skills, and development.
Understanding Childhood-onset schizophrenia
It often leads to early challenges with processing, learning, language, and physical skills, and children may have trouble with social communication. Before clear psychotic symptoms appear, many children hear sounds or voices that are not there. Autism spectrum disorders and ADHD often occur at the same time. GARD says the course is more severe than when schizophrenia starts in adulthood.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD's summary describes these features:
- Delays in learning, language, and physical skills
- Trouble with social communication
- Hearing voices or sounds that are not there
- Seeing or feeling things that are not there (less common)
- Autism spectrum disorder or ADHD at the same time
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include brain and nervous system specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists)
- Expert care
- Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with rare disease patient organizations for support
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
GARD doesn't describe a cause for this condition yet.
Also known as: childhood schizophrenia; cos - childhood-onset schizophrenia; veos - very early-onset schizophrenia; very early-onset schizophrenia
Patient organizations
Rare-disease groups that can help
- Global GenesRare Diseases · United States
- National Organization for Rare DisordersRare Diseases · United States
- Genetic AllianceRare Diseases · United States
- RARE FoundationRare Diseases · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Childhood-onset schizophrenia.
Explore research for Childhood-onset schizophrenia
Explore actively recruiting Childhood-onset schizophrenia studies with HealthSpark.
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- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
- Share your city to look for research near you
- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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