Foster/Adoptive children with "attachment disorders"?

One thing my husband and I have noticed with social services is that they're really quick to put a lable on "behaviors." We had some Somolian kids for foster for a while; they were preschoolers speaking to us in their second languge. They were labeled with "attachment disorders" because they called the man in charge "daddy" and the woman in charge "mommy." I think in their case, that was the word in their English vocabulary that best fit the scenerio.

I know attachment disorders are very real things in some cases, but does the above situation sound more like a language barrier thing than an attachment disorder?
Additional Details
As far as I could tell, the "mommy-daddy" thing is the only thing they were basing this diagnosis on.

Sheryl S

Attachment disorder is common, severe, and it doesn't go away. If they said it's attachment disorder, it probably is.

Anna.

Pfft doubt it.
Supposidely I have or had an attachment disorder.

again??

I agree that attachment disorders are very real. As for labeling them because of the use of "mommy" and "daddy" Im not so sure about. If they were preschool age the diganosis is probably correct. I have had a foster child for 1 year now and he has bonded beautifully with our family and seems very secure. He will however go to anybody, at anytime and is absolutely not shy around strangers but doctors consider him to have no attachment disorders. Who knows if it will surface later though.

Moose

Separation from one's natural family is almost a guarantee of some level of attachment issues anyway. Granted, that diagnosis shoudn't be based solely on one factor, but you can pretty much guarantee there will be attachment issues anyway, diagnosed or not. If you're planning to raise children who did not come from your body, you'll need to be educated about attachment issues regardless (which I'm sure you are anyway). No matter what it's called, or who diagnosed what, be prepared to recognize and deal with attachment stuff. Even if it never comes up, it's worth it to know how to recognize it.

Ann Mary G

99% of children that are not with their natural mothers end up with attachment disorder, however I would not classify the use of mommy and daddy as such. It may be a term of respect in their language. There also may have been children to the foster parents and these children picked up on the term, thinking that is what they are supposed to call them. Just like when an only child calls their mother or father by their first name because that is what everyone else calls them.

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