Teen Science Not Rocket Science

Teenage is a state of constant changes; physical, hormonal, psychological and emotional changes. Amidst this chaos of change, teenagers yearn for sound and solid support, especially from their family and friends. They want guidance in discovering what is right and help them develop a personal identity. To address this issue, The Aga Khan University Hospital held a public awareness session, titled “Teen Science, Not Rocket Science”, at the University Auditorium on 3 November 2016.

Medical faculty from the Mind and Brain Service Line spoke on topics about teenage behaviour and how to resolve any issues that may arise as a consequence. The session was moderated by Dr. Murad Khan, Professor, Psychiatry. The presentations began with Dr. Sara Khan, Assistant Professor, Neurology explaining in detail how a teenage brain is different. Giving a scientific reasoning to as to why a teen is moody, impulsive and maddening, she explained that the brain structure during adolescence is undergoing rapid changes. She said that while emotional responses in a teen are fully developed, a teen still lacks the ability to control these emotions as part of the brain (prefrontal cortex) responsible for reasoning, planning and judgment develops much later. Dr. Aneela Darbar, Assistant Professor, Neurosurgery, highlighted measures on how to keep your teen safe. She said that since there is a high prevalence of risk taking behaviour amongst teens, they should be taught to tackle high-risk situations, encouraged to develop a zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol, guided in choosing a safe car for commute, directed to wear seat belts while driving and discouraged to text while driving. Dr. Sana Younus, Fellow, Psychiatry, helped educate the audience about puberty and why it is important for parents to address any questions their teens may have about the changes he/she maybe be undergoing. She stressed on the fact that parents can give honest answers to these questions, help give the correct information and communicate values to their teens who in the absence of a reliable source might refer to unsafe sources for their queries. Dr. Aisha Sanober, Instructor, Psychiatry spoke on the important topic of prevalence of drugs amongst teenagers. Explaining the reasons for drug use by teens, she said that the first and foremost step parents should take is in coming out of the denial that their teen will not use drugs. She said that parents should talk to their teenagers about drugs and explain how its use will hamper their physical and emotional development. Dr. Noufel Goddeau, Assistant Professor, Psychiatry, University of Tunisia, presented key points on how to develop healthy eating behaviour amongst teens. He said that while adolescents are unable to control the changes happening to and around them, what they are able to exert a control on is food, and at times limiting it helps them manage the distorted image they may have of their bodies, leading to issues like anorexia nervosa. He also said that teens may indulge in binge eating as a consequence of the anxiety they may be going through, once again leading to unhealthy eating habits. In the end to help the audience understand the true perspective of a teenager, Hiba Ghazali, a teenager herself came in to compare the teenage years to a tug of war. She said that a teen is in constant conflict between what his/her peers think and what his/her parents expect of them. She said that teenage years are a dynamic experience and a critical time of self-discovery.

After the presentations, a panel discussion was held, which included Dr. Saad Shafqat, Professor Neurology, Dr. Ather Enam, Professor Surgery, Dr. Ayesha Mian, Assistant Professor Psychiatry and a US University based John Sargant, Professor Psychiatry. The panellists shared their experience as parents of teenagers and addressed the audience’s questions on dealing with the teenagers of their own.

The session was well received and was evident in the Q&A session that followed in the end. Many participants had multiple questions to which they received satisfactory answers by the panellists.