Although the average age of onset for the disease is 18 for men and 25 for women; some children could get schizophrenia over the age of five, but it is very uncommon before adolescence. Early symptoms and behaviors of schizophrenia in children are gradual shyness, clinging to parents, and delayed speech and motor skills, usually before hallucinations and delusions set in, around the age of seven or later.
Children with schizophrenia are commonly confused with children with autism, which affects 1 in 500 children. The difference is children with autism are usually diagnosed with the disease by age three, while children with schizophrenia do not show signs of schizophrenia until about age seven or later, but before the age of 12; and have a history of hallucinations and delusions for about six months. It is harder to treat schizophrenia in children than in adults, however newer medications seem to help.
Symptoms of schizophrenia takeover the life of the child and are not seen only in one environment such as at school. If children show any interest in friendships, even if they do not keep them, they probably do not have schizophrenia.
The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry write Facts for Families and there is an article, "Schizophrenia in Children," that explains the symptoms and behaviors of children with schizophrenia which may slightly differ from adults with the illness. They are as follows:
- seeing things and hearing voices which are not real (hallucinations),
- odd and eccentric behavior, and/or speech,
- unusual or bizarre thoughts and ideas,
- confusing television and dreams from reality,
- confused thinking,
- extreme moodiness,
- ideas that people are out to get them or talking about them, (paranoia)
- severe anxiety and fearfulness,
- difficulty relating to peers, and keeping friends.
- withdrawn and increased isolation,
- decline in personal hygiene